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Barbatacysta capitata

Barbatacysta capitata, (Cookson and Eisenack, 1960b, p.252, pl.39, fig.9), Schrank, 2005, p.548.

Originally Hystrichosphaeridium, subsequently Prolixosphaeridium, thirdly Tenua Eisenack, fourthly Batiacasphaera, fifthly (and now) Barbatacysta.

Holotype: Cookson and Eisenack, 1960b, pl.39, fig.9; Fauconnier and Masure, 2004, pl.66, fig.1.
Age: Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian.

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Original description as Hystrichsphaeridium capitatum: [Cookson and Eisenack, 1960, p. 252]:

Description:
Shell cylindrical with rounded ends, densely covered with short, solid appendages with capitate or somewhat bifurcate ends and an opening by the complete detachment of one end of the shell.

Dimensions:
Holotype: 64 µm long, 42 µm broad, overall 72x50 µm. Range of shell 64-66x28-44 µm.

Affinities:
H. capitatum seems distinct from all described species of Hystrichosphaeridium with elongate shells; the appendages show some similarity to those of H. intermedia? O.Wetzel.

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Supplemental description as Tenua capitata:

Gitmez and Sarjeant, 1972, p.189:

Description:
Cyst spherical to elongate, with an apical archaeopyle and rounded antapex, bearing processes whose length sometimes reaches to one-third of the shell breadth and which number around fifty. The processes are hollow, capitate or briefly bifurcate, their distribution appearing random.
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