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Mendicodinium spinosum

Mendicodinium spinosum Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a

Stratigraphic horizon: Lower Toarcian, lower D. tenuicostatum Zone.

Original Diagnosis: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a, p. 104, 105
Ellipsoidal, proximochorate, small dinoflagellate cysts. Autophragm smooth or perforate, ornamented with nontabular spines.

Original Description: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a, p. 104, 105
Ellipsoidal, proximochorate, small dinoflagellate cysts which are markedly elongate equatorially. Autophragm relatively thick, smooth or perforate, surmounted by occasional slender, solid, distally tapering spines. The spines are non-tabular and are variable in number, typically between about 5 to 20. The hypocyst may be significantly larger than the epicyst.

Discussion: Bucefalo Palliani et al. 1997a, p. 104, 105
Mendicodinium sp. C Davies, 1985 is smaller than M. spinosum, but the latter has significantly smaller spines than the former. Davies (1985) interpreted the spines of Mendicodinium sp. C as being tabular. Mendicodinium spinosum differs from all previously described species of Mendicodinium in being proximochorate. Mendicodinium sp. 2 in Baldanza et al. (1995) is considered to be M. spinosum.
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