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Raetiaedinium belgicum
From Fensome et al., 2019:
Raetiaedinium belgicum Slimani, 1994, p.84–85, pl.12, figs.5–9. Holotype: Slimani, 1994, pl.12, figs.5–7. Age: late Campanian.
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Original description (Slimani, 1994) translation PKB:
Name derivation: Latin: Belgka, Belgium.
Holocaust site: Turnhout -933 m, preparation 3, E.F. coordinates R47/2 - R48/1.
Parastatus site: Turnhout -933 m, preparation 3, E.F. coordinates F31.
Type locality: Turnhout -933 m.
Type horizon: Upper Campanian.
Diagnosis: Skolochorate cyst; the central body is ovoid to spheroid and bears hollow intratabular processes, the paracingular, parasulcal, and apical of which are simple, thin, and acuminate; the precingular processes are bifurcated to tri-turvy towards their midpoint, while the postcingular and antapical processes are complex, broad, and bear numerous thin, acuminate processes distally. The paratabulation is of the gonyaulacoid type and corresponds to the following formula: 74', 6", 6c, 6" \ ? l p, 1"". The archeopyl is precingular of type 2P; the operculum is composed of two disjoint and free paraplates.
Dimensions: Holotype: central body, length: 36 µm, width: 31 µm, diameter of the entire cyst: 50 µm.
Variations: maximum diameter of the central body: 24–40 µm, diameter of the entire cyst: 40–66 µm.
Process length: 8–14 µm. Width of simple processes: 2–3 µm. Width of complex processes: 8–20 µm. Number of specimens measured: 13. Material: >25 specimens.
Description: The central body often bears a small apical bump, 2 to 4 µm in size. The endophragm is smooth and approximately 1 µm thick. The periphragm is thin, scaly, and in contact with the endophragm between the processes. The number of processes per paraplaque is as follows: 1 postcingular process per paraplaque, elongated longitudinally relative to the cyst; 1 antapical process; 2 to 3 paracingular processes per paraplaque; and apparently 1 to 2 apical, sulcal, and precingular processes per paraplaque. The apical and precingular processes are sometimes difficult to distinguish. The archeopyle and the small apical bump allow for orientation of the cyst.
Note: Raetiacdinium belgicum sp. nov., with its characteristic processes, resembles certain species of the genus Florentinia, such as F. ferox (Deflandre, 1937b) Duxbury (1980) and F. tenera (Davey and Verdier, 1976) Duxbury (1980), but it differs from them primarily in its 2P-type precingular archeopyl. This species is attributed to Raetiaedinium Kirsch (1991) and not to Pervosphaeridium Yun (1981), based mainly on the shape of its processes, which indicate paratabulation. Pervosphaeridium sp. B, found in the Campanian in western Belgium by Louwye in his doctoral thesis (1991: p. 222), may be closely related to the species studied in this work.
Locality: Beutenaken: sample; 2 to 4, Halembaye: sample; 12; Upper Campanian (B. mucronata Zone). Turnhout: -966.50 to -933 m, Upper Campanian.
Raetiaedinium belgicum Slimani, 1994, p.84–85, pl.12, figs.5–9. Holotype: Slimani, 1994, pl.12, figs.5–7. Age: late Campanian.
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Original description (Slimani, 1994) translation PKB:
Name derivation: Latin: Belgka, Belgium.
Holocaust site: Turnhout -933 m, preparation 3, E.F. coordinates R47/2 - R48/1.
Parastatus site: Turnhout -933 m, preparation 3, E.F. coordinates F31.
Type locality: Turnhout -933 m.
Type horizon: Upper Campanian.
Diagnosis: Skolochorate cyst; the central body is ovoid to spheroid and bears hollow intratabular processes, the paracingular, parasulcal, and apical of which are simple, thin, and acuminate; the precingular processes are bifurcated to tri-turvy towards their midpoint, while the postcingular and antapical processes are complex, broad, and bear numerous thin, acuminate processes distally. The paratabulation is of the gonyaulacoid type and corresponds to the following formula: 74', 6", 6c, 6" \ ? l p, 1"". The archeopyl is precingular of type 2P; the operculum is composed of two disjoint and free paraplates.
Dimensions: Holotype: central body, length: 36 µm, width: 31 µm, diameter of the entire cyst: 50 µm.
Variations: maximum diameter of the central body: 24–40 µm, diameter of the entire cyst: 40–66 µm.
Process length: 8–14 µm. Width of simple processes: 2–3 µm. Width of complex processes: 8–20 µm. Number of specimens measured: 13. Material: >25 specimens.
Description: The central body often bears a small apical bump, 2 to 4 µm in size. The endophragm is smooth and approximately 1 µm thick. The periphragm is thin, scaly, and in contact with the endophragm between the processes. The number of processes per paraplaque is as follows: 1 postcingular process per paraplaque, elongated longitudinally relative to the cyst; 1 antapical process; 2 to 3 paracingular processes per paraplaque; and apparently 1 to 2 apical, sulcal, and precingular processes per paraplaque. The apical and precingular processes are sometimes difficult to distinguish. The archeopyle and the small apical bump allow for orientation of the cyst.
Note: Raetiacdinium belgicum sp. nov., with its characteristic processes, resembles certain species of the genus Florentinia, such as F. ferox (Deflandre, 1937b) Duxbury (1980) and F. tenera (Davey and Verdier, 1976) Duxbury (1980), but it differs from them primarily in its 2P-type precingular archeopyl. This species is attributed to Raetiaedinium Kirsch (1991) and not to Pervosphaeridium Yun (1981), based mainly on the shape of its processes, which indicate paratabulation. Pervosphaeridium sp. B, found in the Campanian in western Belgium by Louwye in his doctoral thesis (1991: p. 222), may be closely related to the species studied in this work.
Locality: Beutenaken: sample; 2 to 4, Halembaye: sample; 12; Upper Campanian (B. mucronata Zone). Turnhout: -966.50 to -933 m, Upper Campanian.