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Wetzeliella spinulosa
Wetzeliella spinulosa Wilson, 1988
Holotype: Wilson, 1988, pl.25, fig.2a-b
Locus typicus: Waipawa Section, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Stratum typicum: Early Eocene (Waipawan)
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G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999
Wetzeliella spinulosa, Wilson, 1988.In his diagnosis, Wilson (1988, p.33) noted that Wetzeliella spinulosa has four prominent horns, with an occasional protuberance for the right antapical horn. Processes numerous, tapered, with broad bases and aculeate or capitate tips, sometimes aligned in rows. Processes up to 12 Fm long, but very short on the horns. From the description the archeopyle sounds like the uncinata type, since Wilson (1987) describes it as fairly narrow, quadrate type I/I with operculum sometimes attached but generally free. Overall length 90-120 Fm. Wetzeliella spinulosa differs from Apectodinium hyperacantha in being more circumcavate with a much more distinctive endocyst. It differs from Wetzeliella meckelfeldensis and W. symmetrica in being distinctly circumcavate with a much more prominent pericoel and in having a much less well defined archeopyle. Size: length 90-120 µm, width 103-127 µm, endocyst length 54-70 µm, width 54-68 µm, processes in holotype 2-12 µm long.
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Original description: Wilson, 1988, p.33
Cyst intermediate to large, compressed peridinioid, circumcavate, with four prominent horns (one apical, two lateral, one antapical); left antapical horn displaced to left of mid dorsal line, occasional protuberance on right hand side denotes position of right antapical horn. Endocyst smooth, thin-walled and circular to broadly elliptical in outline. Processes numerous, tapered, with broad bases and aculeate or capitate tips, sometimes may be roughly aligned in rows; processes on most of pericyst fairly long (up to 12 µm) very small and closely clustered on distal parts of horns (2-4 µm); pericyst smooth between processes. Archeopyle intercalary, fairly narrow, quadrate Type I/I; operculum sometimes attached along anterior margin, generally free. Paracingulum sometimes defined by subparallel rows of processes. Parasulcus not indicated. Dimensions: Holotype: overall length 120 µm, breadth 122 µm, length of endocyst 63 µm, breadth 63 µm, length of processes 2 µm-12 µm. Range: Overall length 90(106)120 µm, breadth 103(115)127 µm, length of endocyst 54(64)70 µm, breadth 54(65)68 µm (n= 10).
Affinities:
Wilson, 1988, p. 33: This species was originally referred to the Australian species Wetzeliella hyperacantha by the writer (Wilson 1967) on the basis of one complete specimen and several incomplete specimens. However with the availability of several more complete specimens from reprepared samples it is clear that the Waipawa specimens belong to a different species. In particular the relatively well developed circumcavation and much more distinct endocyst distinguish it from the Australian species, which is currently placed in the genus Apectodinium. The new species most closely resembles Wetzeliella symmetrica Weiler and W. meckelfeldensis Gocht in having a roughly similar outline and virtually no development of a right antapical horn. However it differs from both in being distinctly circumcavate with a much more prominent pericoel and in having a much less well defined archeopyle, with the operculum sometimes (though not always) attached anteriorly, as in Gochtodinium. Wetzeliella spinulosa is a useful stratigraphic index for the New Zealand Waipawan Stage, and the Wetzeliella cf. hyperacantha Zone of Wilson (1984) is now accordingly renamed the Wetzeliella spinulosa Zone (see above).
Holotype: Wilson, 1988, pl.25, fig.2a-b
Locus typicus: Waipawa Section, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Stratum typicum: Early Eocene (Waipawan)
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G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999
Wetzeliella spinulosa, Wilson, 1988.In his diagnosis, Wilson (1988, p.33) noted that Wetzeliella spinulosa has four prominent horns, with an occasional protuberance for the right antapical horn. Processes numerous, tapered, with broad bases and aculeate or capitate tips, sometimes aligned in rows. Processes up to 12 Fm long, but very short on the horns. From the description the archeopyle sounds like the uncinata type, since Wilson (1987) describes it as fairly narrow, quadrate type I/I with operculum sometimes attached but generally free. Overall length 90-120 Fm. Wetzeliella spinulosa differs from Apectodinium hyperacantha in being more circumcavate with a much more distinctive endocyst. It differs from Wetzeliella meckelfeldensis and W. symmetrica in being distinctly circumcavate with a much more prominent pericoel and in having a much less well defined archeopyle. Size: length 90-120 µm, width 103-127 µm, endocyst length 54-70 µm, width 54-68 µm, processes in holotype 2-12 µm long.
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Original description: Wilson, 1988, p.33
Cyst intermediate to large, compressed peridinioid, circumcavate, with four prominent horns (one apical, two lateral, one antapical); left antapical horn displaced to left of mid dorsal line, occasional protuberance on right hand side denotes position of right antapical horn. Endocyst smooth, thin-walled and circular to broadly elliptical in outline. Processes numerous, tapered, with broad bases and aculeate or capitate tips, sometimes may be roughly aligned in rows; processes on most of pericyst fairly long (up to 12 µm) very small and closely clustered on distal parts of horns (2-4 µm); pericyst smooth between processes. Archeopyle intercalary, fairly narrow, quadrate Type I/I; operculum sometimes attached along anterior margin, generally free. Paracingulum sometimes defined by subparallel rows of processes. Parasulcus not indicated. Dimensions: Holotype: overall length 120 µm, breadth 122 µm, length of endocyst 63 µm, breadth 63 µm, length of processes 2 µm-12 µm. Range: Overall length 90(106)120 µm, breadth 103(115)127 µm, length of endocyst 54(64)70 µm, breadth 54(65)68 µm (n= 10).
Affinities:
Wilson, 1988, p. 33: This species was originally referred to the Australian species Wetzeliella hyperacantha by the writer (Wilson 1967) on the basis of one complete specimen and several incomplete specimens. However with the availability of several more complete specimens from reprepared samples it is clear that the Waipawa specimens belong to a different species. In particular the relatively well developed circumcavation and much more distinct endocyst distinguish it from the Australian species, which is currently placed in the genus Apectodinium. The new species most closely resembles Wetzeliella symmetrica Weiler and W. meckelfeldensis Gocht in having a roughly similar outline and virtually no development of a right antapical horn. However it differs from both in being distinctly circumcavate with a much more prominent pericoel and in having a much less well defined archeopyle, with the operculum sometimes (though not always) attached anteriorly, as in Gochtodinium. Wetzeliella spinulosa is a useful stratigraphic index for the New Zealand Waipawan Stage, and the Wetzeliella cf. hyperacantha Zone of Wilson (1984) is now accordingly renamed the Wetzeliella spinulosa Zone (see above).