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Raphidodinium fucatum ssp. forma
From Fensome et al., 2019:
Raphidodinium fucatum subsp. forma Deflandre, 1943, p.504–505, pl.17, fig.9; text-fig.27. Holotype: Deflandre, 1943, pl.17, fig.9; text-fig.27. The rank of this taxon was not specified in the protologue but, since this was not a requirement until 1953 (ICN Article 37.1), the name is validly published. Williams et al. (1998, p.525– 526) arbitrarily assigned it to the rank of subspecies. NIA. Age: Late Cretaceous.
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Original description: Deflandre, 1943, p. 508: Raphidodinium fucatum DEFL. forma. (Fig. 27 et PI. XVII, fig. 9.)
Plesiotype: AF 37, Flint (? Senonian) S, 35, Paris.
The variations recorded in the appearance of this species during its description (2, p. 37) do not seem broad enough to include the form shown here. Is this a new variety, or simply a special case due to different preservation? It is difficult to say. The outline is distinctly angular in this form, the membrane appears more fragile, and, most importantly, some of the long needles show a clearly differentiated base. This characteristic is contrary to what I have seen and described in the specimens that have been studied previously. In these, the hollow needles widen quite rapidly to conform to the membrane with which they fuse without any trace of a suture (loc. cit., p. 37). Raphidodinium fucatum forrina is approximately the same size as the first types: length 29 µm; width 23 µm, needles about 32 µm long. It comes from a Parisian flint pebble already mentioned for its richness in Gymnodinium.
Raphidodinium fucatum subsp. forma Deflandre, 1943, p.504–505, pl.17, fig.9; text-fig.27. Holotype: Deflandre, 1943, pl.17, fig.9; text-fig.27. The rank of this taxon was not specified in the protologue but, since this was not a requirement until 1953 (ICN Article 37.1), the name is validly published. Williams et al. (1998, p.525– 526) arbitrarily assigned it to the rank of subspecies. NIA. Age: Late Cretaceous.
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Original description: Deflandre, 1943, p. 508: Raphidodinium fucatum DEFL. forma. (Fig. 27 et PI. XVII, fig. 9.)
Plesiotype: AF 37, Flint (? Senonian) S, 35, Paris.
The variations recorded in the appearance of this species during its description (2, p. 37) do not seem broad enough to include the form shown here. Is this a new variety, or simply a special case due to different preservation? It is difficult to say. The outline is distinctly angular in this form, the membrane appears more fragile, and, most importantly, some of the long needles show a clearly differentiated base. This characteristic is contrary to what I have seen and described in the specimens that have been studied previously. In these, the hollow needles widen quite rapidly to conform to the membrane with which they fuse without any trace of a suture (loc. cit., p. 37). Raphidodinium fucatum forrina is approximately the same size as the first types: length 29 µm; width 23 µm, needles about 32 µm long. It comes from a Parisian flint pebble already mentioned for its richness in Gymnodinium.