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Spiniferites falcipedius
Spiniferites falcipedius Warny et Wrenn, 1997
Holotype: Warny et Wrenn, 1997: Plate V, 1 -4
Type locality: Bou Regreg S Core, Sale, Riffian Corridor, Morocco.
Stratum typicum: Messinian
Stratigraphic range: Miocene to Pliocene, entire core: samples B106 (182.9 m) S2 (2.99 m) (Fig. 2).
Original diagnosis: Warny et Wrenn, 1997, p. 291, 293, 297
A species of Spiniferites characterised by two broad, hollow and long, antapical gonal processes joined by a suturocavate membrane. An additional, smaller process may arise from the suturocavate membrane connecting the two large antapical processes. All processes on the cyst are hollow, distally closed and trifurcate; most are broad processes but those bordering the parasulcus and the preapical(?) are much thinner and may be distally bifurcate or acicular.
Description: Warny et Wrenn, 1997, p. 291, 293, 297
Shape: Spherical to slightly elongate central body bearing primarily, broad and long trifurcate processes. Processes: Most processes are large, hollow, subtriangular to circular in cross section and connected proximally by low ridges or, between some processes, by low membranes. Process terminations are usually trifurcate and solid, though some are irregularly fenestrate. High membranes often connect processes on the opposite side of the paracingulum. The apical processes (often three) may be connected by a high membrane. One thin preapical(?) process is often present at the apex of the cyst. Two large widely spaced antapical processes consistently arise from a wide common base. Phragma: The endophragm is smooth and the periphragm is microgranular to granular. Archeopyle: Precingular, Type P (3" only). Paratabulation: Parasutural ribs and/or membranes delimit paraplates, and gonal processes mark the corners of the paraplates. The paratabulation formula is 4" 6" 6C 6""?3s 1"". Paracingulum: Delimited by two parallel sets of gonal processes and low ridges. Processes on opposite sides of the paracingulum may have a common suturocavate base that runs perpendicular to the paracingulum, forming the boundary between transversely elongate paraplates. The paracingulum is laevorotatory and offset a distance equal to the width of the paracingulum in an apical/antapical direction.
Dimensions: Holotype: Overall length 90.1 µm; overall width 85.0 µm; central body length 57.8 µm; central body width 51.0 µm; processes length 8.5-17.0 µm; antapical process structure width: 23.8 µm. Mean (x) and extreme values for n= 10: overall length 85.0-(98.0)-112.2 µm; overall width 71.4- (86.5)-96.9 µm; central body length 51.0-(60.5)- 74.8 µm; central body width 47.6-(54.7)-64.6 µm; processes length 10.2-(18.1)-25.5 µm; width of the antapical process structure 20.4-(26.3)-37.4 µm.
Comparison: Spiniferites falcipedius is similar to S. mirabilis. However, it differs characteristically in having two very broad antapical processes that arise from a common suturocavate base and by lacking intergonal processes. The structure of the antapical membrane is much more robust on S. falcipedius than on S. mirabilis., and the diameter of almost all processes on S. falcipedius is much larger than those of S. mirabilis. The most significant difference is the presence of numerous intergonal processes on S. mirabilis, particularly on the antapical structure.
Comments: Specimens sharing characteristics of both S. mirabilis and S. falcipedius were observed in the Bou Regreg core samples. Typically, S. mirabilis bears numerous thin gonal and intergonal processes and an antapical structure giving rise to many short bifurcate and trifurcate processes (PlateVI, 5-7; PlateVIII, 5-6); whereas S. falcipedius bears only broad gonal processes and two large antapical processes joined by a suturocavate membrane ( Plate VI, I -4; Plate VII, 1 -4). One intergradational specimen had the typical broad, gonal processes of S. falcipedius, but bore three processes instead of two, on the antapical structure, a feature that is typical of S. mirabilis (PlateVII, 1, 2). Another gradational specimen had abundant, thin gonal and intergonal processes, typical of S. mirabilis, and two broad antapical processes, typical of S. falcipedius ( Plate VIII, 3, 4). These gradational specimens suggest a close relationship, perhaps an evolutionary relationship,
exists between S. mirabilis and S. falcipedius.
Holotype: Warny et Wrenn, 1997: Plate V, 1 -4
Type locality: Bou Regreg S Core, Sale, Riffian Corridor, Morocco.
Stratum typicum: Messinian
Stratigraphic range: Miocene to Pliocene, entire core: samples B106 (182.9 m) S2 (2.99 m) (Fig. 2).
Original diagnosis: Warny et Wrenn, 1997, p. 291, 293, 297
A species of Spiniferites characterised by two broad, hollow and long, antapical gonal processes joined by a suturocavate membrane. An additional, smaller process may arise from the suturocavate membrane connecting the two large antapical processes. All processes on the cyst are hollow, distally closed and trifurcate; most are broad processes but those bordering the parasulcus and the preapical(?) are much thinner and may be distally bifurcate or acicular.
Description: Warny et Wrenn, 1997, p. 291, 293, 297
Shape: Spherical to slightly elongate central body bearing primarily, broad and long trifurcate processes. Processes: Most processes are large, hollow, subtriangular to circular in cross section and connected proximally by low ridges or, between some processes, by low membranes. Process terminations are usually trifurcate and solid, though some are irregularly fenestrate. High membranes often connect processes on the opposite side of the paracingulum. The apical processes (often three) may be connected by a high membrane. One thin preapical(?) process is often present at the apex of the cyst. Two large widely spaced antapical processes consistently arise from a wide common base. Phragma: The endophragm is smooth and the periphragm is microgranular to granular. Archeopyle: Precingular, Type P (3" only). Paratabulation: Parasutural ribs and/or membranes delimit paraplates, and gonal processes mark the corners of the paraplates. The paratabulation formula is 4" 6" 6C 6""?3s 1"". Paracingulum: Delimited by two parallel sets of gonal processes and low ridges. Processes on opposite sides of the paracingulum may have a common suturocavate base that runs perpendicular to the paracingulum, forming the boundary between transversely elongate paraplates. The paracingulum is laevorotatory and offset a distance equal to the width of the paracingulum in an apical/antapical direction.
Dimensions: Holotype: Overall length 90.1 µm; overall width 85.0 µm; central body length 57.8 µm; central body width 51.0 µm; processes length 8.5-17.0 µm; antapical process structure width: 23.8 µm. Mean (x) and extreme values for n= 10: overall length 85.0-(98.0)-112.2 µm; overall width 71.4- (86.5)-96.9 µm; central body length 51.0-(60.5)- 74.8 µm; central body width 47.6-(54.7)-64.6 µm; processes length 10.2-(18.1)-25.5 µm; width of the antapical process structure 20.4-(26.3)-37.4 µm.
Comparison: Spiniferites falcipedius is similar to S. mirabilis. However, it differs characteristically in having two very broad antapical processes that arise from a common suturocavate base and by lacking intergonal processes. The structure of the antapical membrane is much more robust on S. falcipedius than on S. mirabilis., and the diameter of almost all processes on S. falcipedius is much larger than those of S. mirabilis. The most significant difference is the presence of numerous intergonal processes on S. mirabilis, particularly on the antapical structure.
Comments: Specimens sharing characteristics of both S. mirabilis and S. falcipedius were observed in the Bou Regreg core samples. Typically, S. mirabilis bears numerous thin gonal and intergonal processes and an antapical structure giving rise to many short bifurcate and trifurcate processes (PlateVI, 5-7; PlateVIII, 5-6); whereas S. falcipedius bears only broad gonal processes and two large antapical processes joined by a suturocavate membrane ( Plate VI, I -4; Plate VII, 1 -4). One intergradational specimen had the typical broad, gonal processes of S. falcipedius, but bore three processes instead of two, on the antapical structure, a feature that is typical of S. mirabilis (PlateVII, 1, 2). Another gradational specimen had abundant, thin gonal and intergonal processes, typical of S. mirabilis, and two broad antapical processes, typical of S. falcipedius ( Plate VIII, 3, 4). These gradational specimens suggest a close relationship, perhaps an evolutionary relationship,
exists between S. mirabilis and S. falcipedius.