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Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae
Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae Lucas-Clark, 2007, p.210,212, pl.2, figs.1–9; text-figs.7B,9.
Holotype: Lucas-Clark, 2007, pl.2, figs.1–2.
Age: late Albian.
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Original description (Lucas-Clark, 2007):
Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae sp. nov. Plate 2, figs. 1–9; Text-Figures 7B, 9
Hystrichosphaeridium cf. H. arundum Eisenack & Cookson, 1960; Below, 1984, p. 635, pl. 4, fig. 12.
Holotype. Plate 2, figs. 1, 2. Sample PL4481(c2); Elk Creek Melange, near Covelo, California; slide FX45, coordinates 85.2 x 8.7, England Finder reference J22/4. Carnegie Museum of Natural History #19158.
Derivation of name. In honor of the palynologist Sharma L. Gaponoff.
Diagnosis. Chorate cyst with 35 to about 45 discrete, flaring to goblet-shaped processes. Archeopyle apical, operculum free.
Description. Chorate, apiculocavate cysts with a spherical to subspherical central body and 35 to about 45 discrete hollow, open processes (three to four on the operculum). Periphragm ornament finely granular to scabrate, does not extend onto processes, which are smooth. Endophargm smooth. Processes goblet-shaped or flaring distally; narrow and circular at base. Process shafts circular in cross-section. Processes represent plates B, Ci, Cu, 1u, 1i, 2–6, ai, Iu, II–VI, X, Y, and Z following Evittian notation. These are equivalent to 1'–3', 1a, 1"–6", as, ps, 1c–6c, 1"'–6"', 1p, and 1"" following Kofoidian notation. Processes one to four per plate (TextFigures 7B, 9). Cingular processes not significantly different from pre- and postcingular processes, usually two per plate. Archeopyle apical, operculum free.
Dimensions. Central body 30–32 µm in diameter; processes about 10–15 µm long.
Remarks. This species most closely resembles Litosphaeridium arundum and Litosphaerdium fucosum (Text-Figure 1). It differs from Litosphaeridium arundum in having longer, flaring to goblet-shaped processes that are all virtually the same size (i.e. not reduced in the cingulum and sulcus). It also has a free operculum and a more spherical, rather than elongate central body. Litosphaeridium fucosum has similar processes, although they are apparently not as flaring (Text-Figure 1). There may be some overlap in process shape between the two species; however Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae sp. nov. differs from Litosphaeridium fucosum in having a free operculum, and a much more spherical central body.
Occurrence. Mazagan Plateau, northwest Africa (Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 79), Upper Albian (Below, 1984, sample 547B-5-2). Sample 4481 of this study is from the Elk Creek Melange, near Covelo, California, a part of the Franciscan Central Belt of northern California. Sample PL5450 of this study is from an outlier thrust sheet of the Great Valley Sequence of the Sacramento Valley, near Cache Creek Dam, Clear Lake, California. Both samples are late Albian.
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Holotype: Lucas-Clark, 2007, pl.2, figs.1–2.
Age: late Albian.
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Original description (Lucas-Clark, 2007):
Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae sp. nov. Plate 2, figs. 1–9; Text-Figures 7B, 9
Hystrichosphaeridium cf. H. arundum Eisenack & Cookson, 1960; Below, 1984, p. 635, pl. 4, fig. 12.
Holotype. Plate 2, figs. 1, 2. Sample PL4481(c2); Elk Creek Melange, near Covelo, California; slide FX45, coordinates 85.2 x 8.7, England Finder reference J22/4. Carnegie Museum of Natural History #19158.
Derivation of name. In honor of the palynologist Sharma L. Gaponoff.
Diagnosis. Chorate cyst with 35 to about 45 discrete, flaring to goblet-shaped processes. Archeopyle apical, operculum free.
Description. Chorate, apiculocavate cysts with a spherical to subspherical central body and 35 to about 45 discrete hollow, open processes (three to four on the operculum). Periphragm ornament finely granular to scabrate, does not extend onto processes, which are smooth. Endophargm smooth. Processes goblet-shaped or flaring distally; narrow and circular at base. Process shafts circular in cross-section. Processes represent plates B, Ci, Cu, 1u, 1i, 2–6, ai, Iu, II–VI, X, Y, and Z following Evittian notation. These are equivalent to 1'–3', 1a, 1"–6", as, ps, 1c–6c, 1"'–6"', 1p, and 1"" following Kofoidian notation. Processes one to four per plate (TextFigures 7B, 9). Cingular processes not significantly different from pre- and postcingular processes, usually two per plate. Archeopyle apical, operculum free.
Dimensions. Central body 30–32 µm in diameter; processes about 10–15 µm long.
Remarks. This species most closely resembles Litosphaeridium arundum and Litosphaerdium fucosum (Text-Figure 1). It differs from Litosphaeridium arundum in having longer, flaring to goblet-shaped processes that are all virtually the same size (i.e. not reduced in the cingulum and sulcus). It also has a free operculum and a more spherical, rather than elongate central body. Litosphaeridium fucosum has similar processes, although they are apparently not as flaring (Text-Figure 1). There may be some overlap in process shape between the two species; however Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae sp. nov. differs from Litosphaeridium fucosum in having a free operculum, and a much more spherical central body.
Occurrence. Mazagan Plateau, northwest Africa (Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 79), Upper Albian (Below, 1984, sample 547B-5-2). Sample 4481 of this study is from the Elk Creek Melange, near Covelo, California, a part of the Franciscan Central Belt of northern California. Sample PL5450 of this study is from an outlier thrust sheet of the Great Valley Sequence of the Sacramento Valley, near Cache Creek Dam, Clear Lake, California. Both samples are late Albian.
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