Back
Psaligonyaulax cypraea

Psaligonyaulax cypraea Ioannides et al., 1977

Originally Psaligonyaulax, subsequently (and now) Psaligonyaulax?, thirdly Gonyaulacysta. Stover and Evitt, 1978 considered this to be a provisionally accepted species of Psaligonyaulax. Sarjeant, 1982 questionably transferred this species to Gonyaulacysta Deflandre, 1964; however, Jan du Chene et al., 1986 questionably retained it in Psaligonyaulax.

Holotype: Ioannides et al., 1977, pl.4, fig.5, text-fig. 12; Jan du Chene et al., 1986, pl. 85, figs.1-2, pl. 86, figs.9-11
Locus typicus: Clavell"s Hard, Dorset, England
Stratum typicum: Kimmeridgian

Original diagnosis: Ioanoides et al., 1977, p. 460
Cavate cysts; shell spherical to ovoidal; inner body more or less conformable to outline: at apex a very short bifid prominence formed by enclosing periphragm; antapical pericoel rounded. Tabulation 4", 1a, 6"", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""". Crests low, smooth, or minutely denticulate. Cingulum spiral. Archaeopyle, when present, precingular.

Original description: Ioannoides et al., 1977, p. 460
Apical prominence very short, 1-4 µm high, always bifid giving the appearance of two short conical horns connected at their base. Crests very low rarely exceeding 1.5 µm in height. Plates 1" and 1""" narrow and elongate, the latter reduced in size. A precingular archaeopyle, developed by loss of plate 3"", not always observed. Endophragm and periphragm smooth. Secondary folds present.
Dimensions. Range: overall length 58-76 µm, breadth 45-66 µm: capsule length 48-70 µm, breadth 43-63 µm (18 specimens measured).

Affinities:
Ioannoides et al., 1977, p. 460: Psaligonyaulax cypraea loannides, Stavrinos, and Downie, is distinguished from P. deflandrei Sarjeant, 1966, by its overall shape, the latter being spindle-shaped truncate posteriorly: the apical bifid horn is considerably shorter, and the crests much lower in P. cypraea.
Feedback/Report bug