Back
Diphyes pseudoficusoides

Diphyes pseudoficusoides Bujak, 1994, p. 123, 125

Taxonomic senior synonym: Diphyes colligerum according to Fensome et al. (2009, p.30).

Holotype: Bujak, 1994, pl.4, fig.4
Paratypes: Bujak, 1994
Locus typicus: North Sea, UK22/14-1 well
Stratum typicum: section at 7780ft, Lutetian, Middle Eocene

Original diagnosis: Bujak, 1994, p.???
Cyst subspherical, skolochorate and biphragmal, endophragm and periphragm adpressed except beneath the processes. Periphragm chagrinate to reticulate, forming numerous nontabular processes. Processes greater than 10 Ám in length; processes other than the antapical process tubular, tapering from broad circular bases to narrow necks before ending in expanded, distally aculeate or entire terminations. Antapical process expanded, having a maximum breadth of between 10 Ám and 15 Ám, and tapering distally to a constricted termination that is typically open. Archeopyle apical; operculum tetraplacoid, contiguous.
Dimensions. Central body length (without operculum) 29-34 Ám, breadth 27-40 Ám, antapical process length 13-21 Ám, breadth 10-15 Ám, maximum process length (excluding the antapical process) 12-17 Ám.

Affinities:
Bujak, 1994, p.???: D. pseudoficusoides is distinguished from other species of Diphyes by its antapical process, which is intermediate in morphology between that on D. colligerum and D. ficusoides. The antapical process on D. colligerum typically varies in breadth between 6-8 Ám, whereas that on D. ficusoides varies in breadth between 18-28 Ám.
D. colligerum, D. pseudoficusoides and D. ficusoides have different stratigraphic ranges in the North Sea, where their last occurrences are zonal markers within the Eocene (Bujak and Mudge). D. colligerum has a last consistent occurrence at the top of Subzone E6c of Bujak and Mudge, near the Lutetian-Bartonian boundary, but ranges up sporadically in the North Sea into the late Priabonian. D. pseudoficusoides has its last occurrence at the top of Lutetian Subzone E6a of Bujak and Mudge, and D. ficusoides has its last occurrence at the top of Lutetian Subzone E4d of Bujak and Mudge. D. ficusoides and D. pseudoficusoides have their first North Sea occurrences in the early Ypresian, whereas D. colligerum ranges down in the Palaeocene in the North Sea Basin.
Feedback/Report bug