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Batiacasphaera rugulata
Batiacasphaera rugulata, Schiøler and Wilson, 1998, Plate 6, figs. 11-14
Holotype: Schiøler and Wilson 1998, Plate 6, Fig. 11
Paratypes: Schiøler and Wilson 1998, Plate 6, Fig. 12, 14
Repository: The palynological type collection, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Type locality: Kekerengu section, south Marlborough, New Zealand.
Type stratum: Paton Formation at 271 m on log P30c17; Piripauan (middle-upper Santonian).
Stratigraphic occurrence: 111-135 m in the Ben More section, 180-296 m in the Kekerengu section. Uppermost Teratan-Piripauan (Upper Coniacian-lower Santonian, Upper Cretaceous) in the Paton Formation, south Marlborough, New Zealand.
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Original description: [Schiøler and Wilson, 1998]:
Diagnosis:
Oval to subspherical autocyst ornamented with a coarse rugulate irregular reticulum. Reticulum typically encloses rounded to subcircular lumina. Archeopyle apical, type tA, operculum simple and free.
Paratabulation absent except for that indicated by the archeopyle margin.
Description:
Oval to subspherical autocyst with a slightly asymmetrical outline. A low protuberance is developed at the apex (Plate 6, Fig. 11). The antapex is rounded. The autophragm is ornamented with a coarse reticulum formed by low rugulae (height of ornament: 1-2 µm). The rugulae are relatively broad (width: 1-2 µm) and often enclose rounded lumina of variable shape from elongate kidney-shaped to subcircular (diameter of lumina: 2-4 µm).
The shape of the archeopyle margin indicates the presence of six precingular plates (Plate 6, Fig. 12). The ventral surface is indicated by a small notch in the archeopyle margin. Apart from the archeopyle margin, there is no indication of paratabulation on the cyst.
Dimensions (in µm):
Holotype | Range
Length of autocyst (without operculum) 47 | 45 (56) 66
Width of autocyst 58 | 54 (63) 80
Number of specimens measured: 11
Affinities/Remarks:
Batiacasphaera macrogranulata Morgan, 1975 differs from the new species in having a finer ornament which is primarily formed by granulae. It differs from Batiacasphaera reticulata (Davey, 1969) Davey, 1979 in having a coarse rugulate ornament. It differs from Batiacasphaera kekerengensis sp. nov. by being smaller, in lacking a finely reticulate phragm and in lacking a symmetrically hexagonal operculum. It differs from all other species of Batiacasphaera by having a coarse rugulate surface ornament. Samlandia vermicularia McMinn, 1988 resembles the new species in general appearance, but has a precingular archeopyle. Cassidium fragile (Harris, 1965) Drugg, 1967 differs in having a finer and cassiculate surface ornament and partial paratabulation.
Holotype: Schiøler and Wilson 1998, Plate 6, Fig. 11
Paratypes: Schiøler and Wilson 1998, Plate 6, Fig. 12, 14
Repository: The palynological type collection, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Type locality: Kekerengu section, south Marlborough, New Zealand.
Type stratum: Paton Formation at 271 m on log P30c17; Piripauan (middle-upper Santonian).
Stratigraphic occurrence: 111-135 m in the Ben More section, 180-296 m in the Kekerengu section. Uppermost Teratan-Piripauan (Upper Coniacian-lower Santonian, Upper Cretaceous) in the Paton Formation, south Marlborough, New Zealand.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original description: [Schiøler and Wilson, 1998]:
Diagnosis:
Oval to subspherical autocyst ornamented with a coarse rugulate irregular reticulum. Reticulum typically encloses rounded to subcircular lumina. Archeopyle apical, type tA, operculum simple and free.
Paratabulation absent except for that indicated by the archeopyle margin.
Description:
Oval to subspherical autocyst with a slightly asymmetrical outline. A low protuberance is developed at the apex (Plate 6, Fig. 11). The antapex is rounded. The autophragm is ornamented with a coarse reticulum formed by low rugulae (height of ornament: 1-2 µm). The rugulae are relatively broad (width: 1-2 µm) and often enclose rounded lumina of variable shape from elongate kidney-shaped to subcircular (diameter of lumina: 2-4 µm).
The shape of the archeopyle margin indicates the presence of six precingular plates (Plate 6, Fig. 12). The ventral surface is indicated by a small notch in the archeopyle margin. Apart from the archeopyle margin, there is no indication of paratabulation on the cyst.
Dimensions (in µm):
Holotype | Range
Length of autocyst (without operculum) 47 | 45 (56) 66
Width of autocyst 58 | 54 (63) 80
Number of specimens measured: 11
Affinities/Remarks:
Batiacasphaera macrogranulata Morgan, 1975 differs from the new species in having a finer ornament which is primarily formed by granulae. It differs from Batiacasphaera reticulata (Davey, 1969) Davey, 1979 in having a coarse rugulate ornament. It differs from Batiacasphaera kekerengensis sp. nov. by being smaller, in lacking a finely reticulate phragm and in lacking a symmetrically hexagonal operculum. It differs from all other species of Batiacasphaera by having a coarse rugulate surface ornament. Samlandia vermicularia McMinn, 1988 resembles the new species in general appearance, but has a precingular archeopyle. Cassidium fragile (Harris, 1965) Drugg, 1967 differs in having a finer and cassiculate surface ornament and partial paratabulation.