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Taleisphaera capillata
Taleisphaera? capillata Lister and Batten, 1988
Lister and Batten, 1988 questionably included this species in Taleisphaera.
Holotype: Lister and Batten, pl.9, fig.15
Age: Late Barremian-earliest Aptian
Original description (Batten & Lister, 1988):
Taleisphaera? capillata LISTER & BATTEN n. sp. Plate 9, figs. 15-19
Derivation of name: Lat. capillatus — hairy, with reference to the character of the processes.
Holotype: Plate 9, fig. 15; sample 98.00-98.50 m, preparation MCP1602/2, England Finder reference K50/4, MPK 5527; late Barremian — earliest Aptian.
Diagnosis: Small, rounded-polygonal skolochorate cyst. Thin, smooth to scabrate autophragm bearing fine (1 µm or less in diameter) flexuous processes 5-15 µm long; some simple, acuminate; most slightly flared proximally, branching at about two-thirds of their length, each splitting into 2 to 6 hair-like filaments. Processes show penitabular alignment and usually delineate paracingulum; a parasulcal area devoid of them may occasionally be present. Archeopyle type not observed.
Dimensions: Length 35 (38) 45 µm, width 35 (41) 43 µm (5 specimens).
Remarks: The length of the processes varies; on some cysts the majority extend to 5-10 pm whereas in others they are generally longer (12-15 µm). Their penitabular alignment is most clearly visible on a few specimens in which the processes have been eroded to their bases. A number of clusters of up to 10 cysts were encountered.
The penitabular arrangement of distally furcate processes in this species suggests an affinity with Taleisphaera DUXBURY 1979. However, in the specimens examined the two paraplate precingular archeopyle-type characteristic of the genus was not determinable; hence reference to it is tentative. The type species, T hydra, differs in being much larger and in having sturdier processes arising from penitabular crests.
0ccurrence: Weald Clay – Atherfield Clay junction.
Lister and Batten, 1988 questionably included this species in Taleisphaera.
Holotype: Lister and Batten, pl.9, fig.15
Age: Late Barremian-earliest Aptian
Original description (Batten & Lister, 1988):
Taleisphaera? capillata LISTER & BATTEN n. sp. Plate 9, figs. 15-19
Derivation of name: Lat. capillatus — hairy, with reference to the character of the processes.
Holotype: Plate 9, fig. 15; sample 98.00-98.50 m, preparation MCP1602/2, England Finder reference K50/4, MPK 5527; late Barremian — earliest Aptian.
Diagnosis: Small, rounded-polygonal skolochorate cyst. Thin, smooth to scabrate autophragm bearing fine (1 µm or less in diameter) flexuous processes 5-15 µm long; some simple, acuminate; most slightly flared proximally, branching at about two-thirds of their length, each splitting into 2 to 6 hair-like filaments. Processes show penitabular alignment and usually delineate paracingulum; a parasulcal area devoid of them may occasionally be present. Archeopyle type not observed.
Dimensions: Length 35 (38) 45 µm, width 35 (41) 43 µm (5 specimens).
Remarks: The length of the processes varies; on some cysts the majority extend to 5-10 pm whereas in others they are generally longer (12-15 µm). Their penitabular alignment is most clearly visible on a few specimens in which the processes have been eroded to their bases. A number of clusters of up to 10 cysts were encountered.
The penitabular arrangement of distally furcate processes in this species suggests an affinity with Taleisphaera DUXBURY 1979. However, in the specimens examined the two paraplate precingular archeopyle-type characteristic of the genus was not determinable; hence reference to it is tentative. The type species, T hydra, differs in being much larger and in having sturdier processes arising from penitabular crests.
0ccurrence: Weald Clay – Atherfield Clay junction.