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Hystrichosphaera ramosa var. multibrevis

Hystrichosphaera ramosa var. multibrevis Davey and Williams 1966

Originally Hystrichosphaera ramosa var. multibreuis, subsequently Spiniferites ramosus var. multibrevis, thirdly Spiniferites ramosus ssp. multibrevis, fourthly Spiniferites multibrevis.
Tax. jr. synonym of Galea twistringiensis Maier, 1959, according to Sarjeant, 1983.
Tax. sr. synonym of Spiniferites cambrus (Sah et al., 1970) Stover and Evitt, 1978, according to Jain, 1982.
Holotype: Davey and Williams, 1966, pl.1, fig.4; pl.4, fig.6; Bujak et al., 1980, pl.4, figs.3,6
Stratum typicum: London Clay, Berkshire, England
Locus typicus: Hauterivian

Original diagnosis: Davey and Williams, 1966, p. 35-36
A variety of H. ramosa (Ehrenberg) with smooth or slightly reticulate central body bearing short solid processes less than half the diameter of central body in length. Gonal processes trifurcate, sutural usually bifurcate, both types usually terminating with a small bifurcation. Number and size of sutural processes varying considerably, up to three between adjacent gonal processes. Sutural crests proximal or well developed and always extending along gonal processes, making the latter subconical in shape. When the crests are well developed, the sutural processes may be reduced to delicate protuberances emanating from the crest border.
Dimensions: holotype: diameter of central body 35 by 44.5 Ám, length of processes up to 14 Ám. Range of London Clay specimens; diameter of central body 35-59 Ám, length of processes up to 16 Ám.

Affinities:
Davey and Williams, 1966, p. 36: H. ramosa var. multibrevis is characterized by the presence of short gonal and sutural processes. Examples from the Lower Cretaceous possess very short, rather rudimentary processes and differ from H. dentata (Gocht I959) in having the characteristic tabulation of the genus which is lacking in Gocht"s species.
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