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Palaeocystodinium rafii
Palaeocystodinium rafii Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007, p.60, pl.1, fig.8; pl.2, figs.3,7.
Holotype: Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007, pl.1, fig.8.
Age: Paleocene–?earliest Eocene.
Original description (Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007):
Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov. Plate 1, fig. 8; Plate 2, figs. 3, 7.
Derivation of name. Named after Rafael Pinilla, the godson of Hernan Antolinez.
Holotype. Plate 1, figure 8, slide R-1134-9, Lovins finder coordinates 18K/L. Alo-1 well, 438.9 m, Upper Paleocene.
Dimensions: length of central body 68 µm; width 52 µm; length of apical horn 22 µm; length of antapical horn 18 µm.
Diagnosis. A species of Palaeocystodinium with one short, bluntly rounded apical horn, and one short, pointed antapical horn.
Description. Proximate, cornucavate dinoflagellate cysts, fusiform, with an ovoidal to subellipsoidal inner body, one short bluntly rounded apical horn, and one short pointed antapical horn. Both horns have broad bases and are approximately equal in length. Endophragm smooth, periphragm slightly granular. Cingulum and sulcus not indicated. Archeopyle intercalary, type I2a, hexa-style, isodeltaform.
Dimensions. Length of central body 60–70 µm; width of central body 45–55 µm; length of apical horn 12–23 µm; length of antapical horn 15–20 µm (5 specimens measured).
Comparison. Palaeocystodinium rafiisp. nov. is distinguished from other species of Palaeocystodinium by the consistent location and shape of its broad-based horns that are distally rounded when located in the apex and pointed in the antapex. Palaeocystodinium bulliforme Ioannides 1986 has broad-based apical and antapical horns, but these can be either pointed or rounded distally, regardless of their location on the cyst. Furthermore, the cysts of Palaeocystodinium bulliforme are larger (174–240 x 60– 120 µm) than those of Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov. (87–113 x 45–55 µm). Palaeocystodinium stockmansii Boltenhagen 1977 does not show the relationship between location and shape of the horns observed in the specimens of Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov.
Stratigraphic range. Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov. was observed in the Alo-1 well from 438.9 m to 548.6 m.
Holotype: Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007, pl.1, fig.8.
Age: Paleocene–?earliest Eocene.
Original description (Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007):
Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov. Plate 1, fig. 8; Plate 2, figs. 3, 7.
Derivation of name. Named after Rafael Pinilla, the godson of Hernan Antolinez.
Holotype. Plate 1, figure 8, slide R-1134-9, Lovins finder coordinates 18K/L. Alo-1 well, 438.9 m, Upper Paleocene.
Dimensions: length of central body 68 µm; width 52 µm; length of apical horn 22 µm; length of antapical horn 18 µm.
Diagnosis. A species of Palaeocystodinium with one short, bluntly rounded apical horn, and one short, pointed antapical horn.
Description. Proximate, cornucavate dinoflagellate cysts, fusiform, with an ovoidal to subellipsoidal inner body, one short bluntly rounded apical horn, and one short pointed antapical horn. Both horns have broad bases and are approximately equal in length. Endophragm smooth, periphragm slightly granular. Cingulum and sulcus not indicated. Archeopyle intercalary, type I2a, hexa-style, isodeltaform.
Dimensions. Length of central body 60–70 µm; width of central body 45–55 µm; length of apical horn 12–23 µm; length of antapical horn 15–20 µm (5 specimens measured).
Comparison. Palaeocystodinium rafiisp. nov. is distinguished from other species of Palaeocystodinium by the consistent location and shape of its broad-based horns that are distally rounded when located in the apex and pointed in the antapex. Palaeocystodinium bulliforme Ioannides 1986 has broad-based apical and antapical horns, but these can be either pointed or rounded distally, regardless of their location on the cyst. Furthermore, the cysts of Palaeocystodinium bulliforme are larger (174–240 x 60– 120 µm) than those of Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov. (87–113 x 45–55 µm). Palaeocystodinium stockmansii Boltenhagen 1977 does not show the relationship between location and shape of the horns observed in the specimens of Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov.
Stratigraphic range. Palaeocystodinium rafii sp. nov. was observed in the Alo-1 well from 438.9 m to 548.6 m.