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Prolixosphaeridium mixtispinosum
Prolixosphaeridium mixtispinosum (Klement, 1960) Davey et al., 1969
Originally Baltisphaeridium (an acritarch genus), subsequently (and now) Prolixosphaeridium.
Taxonomic junior synonym: Prolixosphaeridium basifurcatum, according to Courtinat (1989, p.182) — however, Fauconnier and Monteil in Fauconnier and Masure (2004, p.461) retained Prolixosphaeridium basifurcatum.
This combination was not validly published in Davey et al. (1966, p.173), since these authors did not fully reference the basionym
Holotype: Klement, 1960, pl.6, figs.17–18; Sarjeant, 1984a, pl.4, fig.4; Fauconnier and Masure, 2004, pl.66, figs.2–3
Paratypes: Klement, 1960
Locus typicus: Scherstetten, SW Germany
Stratum typicum: Early Kimmeridgian
Translation Klement, 1960: LPP
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G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.
Prolixosphaeridium mixtispinosum (Klement, 1960) Davey et al., 1969. Diagnosis from Klement (1960, p.58-59); a species displaying the overall characteristics of the genus Baltisphaeridium. Central body has a shape ranging from that of a drum or roller to being elongated-ovaloid; it is covered by numerous, more than 50, needle- to awl-shaped processes of average length, which slightly broaden basally; between these processes, very short, hair-like spines are distributed, with said spines being about five times more common than the others. According to Sarjeant (1984a), the longer processes appear to be gonal or sutural. There is also sometimes a longer and stronger antapical process. The archeopyle is apical. Size overall length/breadth ratio 46:37, without processes 38 : 21, process length 8-12 µm, spines 1.5-2 µm,
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Original description: Klement, 1960, p. 58-59: Baltisphaeridium mixtispinosum
Diagnosis: A species with the characteristics of Baltisphaeridum. Shell cylindrical to elongate oval, set with numerous (over 50) intermediately long, needle- to piercer-shaped, proximally weakly broadened processes, between which (about 5 times as much) very short, delicate thorns are distributed.
Description (annotated): The generally extremely well preserved shells are covered with numerous similar, intermediately long, needle- to piercer-shaped, proximally weakly broadened processes. They are distally closed, and generally have pointed tips - distal knob-like thickenings are less frequent, and always appear unforked, rigid, only partially lightly bent. In between these processes (about 5 times as much) very short, delicate thorns are distributed. These may reduced to appear as a mere tuberculation. In most cases, one pole of the shell proved to be split off as a calotte, to form an archaeopyle.
Dimensions: holotype L:B (including processes) 60:46, (without processes) 52:24, process length 11, thorns 1.5-2. paratypes L:B (including processes) 60:52 (max.) 46:37 (min.), (without processes) 52:26 (max.) 38:21 (min.), process length 12 (max) 8 (min.).
Affinities.
Klement, 1960: Baltisphaeridium armatum a similar development of small thorns between the processes, but possesses only 20-30 processes, which are much firmer. Baltisphaeridium xanthiopyxides and its var. granulosum possess only 25-30 processes, which are twice as long, and lack the thorns between the processes. Baltisphaeridium parvispinum also lacks the small thorns, possesses a similar number of slightly shorter processes, and has a finely punctate wall.
Hystrichosphaeridium isocalamus possesses distally broadly blunt, tubular appendices, and lacks the fine ornamentation.
Originally Baltisphaeridium (an acritarch genus), subsequently (and now) Prolixosphaeridium.
Taxonomic junior synonym: Prolixosphaeridium basifurcatum, according to Courtinat (1989, p.182) — however, Fauconnier and Monteil in Fauconnier and Masure (2004, p.461) retained Prolixosphaeridium basifurcatum.
This combination was not validly published in Davey et al. (1966, p.173), since these authors did not fully reference the basionym
Holotype: Klement, 1960, pl.6, figs.17–18; Sarjeant, 1984a, pl.4, fig.4; Fauconnier and Masure, 2004, pl.66, figs.2–3
Paratypes: Klement, 1960
Locus typicus: Scherstetten, SW Germany
Stratum typicum: Early Kimmeridgian
Translation Klement, 1960: LPP
--------------------------------------------------
G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.
Prolixosphaeridium mixtispinosum (Klement, 1960) Davey et al., 1969. Diagnosis from Klement (1960, p.58-59); a species displaying the overall characteristics of the genus Baltisphaeridium. Central body has a shape ranging from that of a drum or roller to being elongated-ovaloid; it is covered by numerous, more than 50, needle- to awl-shaped processes of average length, which slightly broaden basally; between these processes, very short, hair-like spines are distributed, with said spines being about five times more common than the others. According to Sarjeant (1984a), the longer processes appear to be gonal or sutural. There is also sometimes a longer and stronger antapical process. The archeopyle is apical. Size overall length/breadth ratio 46:37, without processes 38 : 21, process length 8-12 µm, spines 1.5-2 µm,
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Original description: Klement, 1960, p. 58-59: Baltisphaeridium mixtispinosum
Diagnosis: A species with the characteristics of Baltisphaeridum. Shell cylindrical to elongate oval, set with numerous (over 50) intermediately long, needle- to piercer-shaped, proximally weakly broadened processes, between which (about 5 times as much) very short, delicate thorns are distributed.
Description (annotated): The generally extremely well preserved shells are covered with numerous similar, intermediately long, needle- to piercer-shaped, proximally weakly broadened processes. They are distally closed, and generally have pointed tips - distal knob-like thickenings are less frequent, and always appear unforked, rigid, only partially lightly bent. In between these processes (about 5 times as much) very short, delicate thorns are distributed. These may reduced to appear as a mere tuberculation. In most cases, one pole of the shell proved to be split off as a calotte, to form an archaeopyle.
Dimensions: holotype L:B (including processes) 60:46, (without processes) 52:24, process length 11, thorns 1.5-2. paratypes L:B (including processes) 60:52 (max.) 46:37 (min.), (without processes) 52:26 (max.) 38:21 (min.), process length 12 (max) 8 (min.).
Affinities.
Klement, 1960: Baltisphaeridium armatum a similar development of small thorns between the processes, but possesses only 20-30 processes, which are much firmer. Baltisphaeridium xanthiopyxides and its var. granulosum possess only 25-30 processes, which are twice as long, and lack the thorns between the processes. Baltisphaeridium parvispinum also lacks the small thorns, possesses a similar number of slightly shorter processes, and has a finely punctate wall.
Hystrichosphaeridium isocalamus possesses distally broadly blunt, tubular appendices, and lacks the fine ornamentation.