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Lanternosphaeridium axiale

Lanternosphaeridium axiale (Eisenack, 1965) Morgenroth, 1966

Now Fibrocysta. Originally Cordosphaeridium, subsequently Lanternosphaeridium, thirdly Amphorosphaeridium, fourthly (and now) Fibrocysta.

Holotype: Eisenack, 1965, pl. 15, fig. 2
Locus typicus: Palmnicken, Samland, E Prussia, Russia
Stratum typicum: Late Eocene-Early Oligocene
Translation Eisenack, 1965: LPP
Translation Gocht, 1969: Geological Survey of Canada

Original description: Eisenack, 1965, p. 150: Cordosphaeridium axiale
Diagnosis: Central shell oval, with axial-symmetrically arranged, relatively long and thin processes. The latter extend from the fibres of a very delicate outer layer, are broadened at their bases, and split distally, more or less irregularly and brush-like, into 3 or more tips bent-apart. The apical pole is marked by a substantially broader and often longer process, which is mostly more deeply branched than the other processes. The pylome is situated subapically, has a rounded horseshoe shape, and extends onto the equator.
Dimensions: holotype: shell 57x71 Ám, total 104x116 Ám. Shell dimensions between 58x62 an 67x78 Ám, the total dimensions between 103x123 and 114x135 Ám.

Morgenroth, 1966, p. 38
Diagnosis: A Lanternosphaeridium species with a smooth shell. Apical horn strong, massive, distally splitting into several thick stumps. Numerous slender, massive processes, incidentally branching distally. Occasional "rootnetwork" at the process-bases indicates a very thin, fibrous outer layer of the shell-wall.
Description: The ovoidal shell has a smooth surface. From it, numerous slender, massive processes extend, which generally widen distally, branching incidentally. Apart from the length, the processes are extremely uniform. At the base of the processes of some specimens, there is an indication of a "rootnetwork", which indicates rudimentary, fibrous outer layer of the shell wall. A strong, massive process rises over the apical horn, widening distally and splitting into several thick stubs. The antapex is marked by a massive, pointed process. The shell generally reaches into both polar processes with small bulges. Directly below the apical pole, all specimens show a stretched-trapezoid pylome, the corners of which are rounded.

Gocht, 1969, p.48,49:
The body is almost always elongate (i.e., ovoid), not very thick-walled, and usually hyaline. However, it clearly reveals the fibrous structure of the processes and the external membrane. This is confirmed by isolated finds with areolated and fibrous surfaces. The processes are usually not very long. They widen into funnels at the end and frequently have short, fingerlike extensions. As a rule, the apical process is large and branched distally in the form of a pecten or crown. Also the antapex is usually marked by a somewhat larger process or process group, but occasionally it may remain inconspicuous. Apart from the processes, also angular projections or concave sinuations of the membrane body may mark the poles. Below the archeopyle, there is a striking double ring of cingular processes comprising 20-22 elements, with 10-11 in each row . The epitheca and the hypotheca each bear ca. 18 processes. Added to these are the polar processes, so that the total number would be about 60, not including individual fine, hairlike appendages in the middle of the ventral area. Unfortunately the operculum was never clearly observed.
Occurrence: Early Eocene- Middle Oligocene.
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