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Diphyes bifidum

Diphyes bifidum Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007, p.55, pl.1, figs.4–5.

Holotype: Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007, pl.1, fig.4.
Age: Paleocene–?earliest Eocene.

Original description (Antolinez-Delgado and Oboh-Ikuenobe, 2007):
Diphyes bifidum sp. nov. Plate 1, figs. 4, 5. Diphyes sp. 1, Jan du Chêne, 1988, p. 155, pl. 5, figs. 5–7.
Derivation of name. From the Latin bifidus, meaning split in two, with reference to the distal termination of the processes.
Holotype. Plate 1, figure 4, slide R-1134-15, Lovins finder coordinates 8D/E. Alo-1 well, 768.1 m, Lower Paleocene.

Dimensions: length 35 µm; width 40 µm; length of antapical process 10 µm.
Diagnosis. A species of Diphyes having slender, tubiform processes with bifid distal terminations.
Description. Proximochorate gonyaulacacean dinoflagellate cysts with spherical central body and numerous, tubiform, nontabular (up to four per plate area) processes. Processes can be unbranched, bifurcate, or rarely trifurcate. Distal terminations of each furcation are typically bifid. Processes are nearly uniform in shape, except for the antapical process that is broader, hollow, with both sides of the outline concave and with a denticulate distal margin. Antapical process is the same length as the rest of the processes. Archeopyle precingular type P3'', or combination precingular-apical, type (4A1–4')P3'', operculum free.

Dimensions. Length 40 µm; width 42 µm; length of antapical process 13 µm (2 specimens measured).

Comparison. Diphyes bifidum sp. nov. differs from other species in having distally bifid processes. Specimens of Diphyes colligerum (Deflandre & Cookson 1955) Cookson 1965 have conical closed capitate processes. Processes in Diphyes spinula (Drugg 1970) Stover & Evitt 1978 are distally tapered, and acuminate.
Stratigraphic range. Diphyes bifidum sp. nov. was observed in the Alo-1 well from 548.6 m to 768.1 m.
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