Mendicodinium umbriense Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a

Holotype: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a: Plate II, 7
Type locality: Colle d"Orlando section, Marne di Monte Serrone Formation, central Italy.
Stratigraphic horizon: Lower Toarcian, lower D. tenuicostatum Zone

Original diagnosis: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a, p. 103
Ellipsoidal, proximate, small dinoflagellate cysts. Autophragm smooth, scabrate to micro-granulate with nontabular granules.

Original description: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a, p. 103
Ellipsoidal, proximate, small dinoflagellate cysts which are markedly elongate equatorially. Autophragm smooth, scabrate to microgranulate; a highly variable, sparse to dense covering of granules is developed. The granules are about 1Ám in diameter and have a nontabular distribution. The cyst is characterized by very
dense internal sculpture (Plate III,4). The hypocyst may be significantly larger than the epicyst.

Dimensions:
Holotype: Length 28Ám, width 36Ám
Overall cyst length: minimum 26Ám; mean 28.5Ám; maximum 34Ám. Overall cyst width: minimum 31Ám;
mean 30.25Ám; maximum 37Ám (15 specimens measured).

Discussion: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a, p. 103
Mendicodinium granulatum Kumar, 1986 is significantly larger in overall size, the maximum diameter of this taxon varies between 78 and 89 ,um. Mendicodinium morgenrothum Butler, 1995 is distinguished from M. umbriense by its markedly greater size and for its ornamentation by nontabular verrucae. Mendicodinium umbriense differs from all other species of Mendicodinium by its distinctive, nontabular granulate ornamentation of variable density. In certain specimens, the granules are extremely sparse (e.g., Plate II, 7-9),
whereas on others, the covering is relatively dense (Plate II, 5, 6). Mendicodinium sp. 3 in Baldanza et al. (1995) is considered to be M. umbriense.