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Ceratocorys mariaovidiorum
Ceratocorys mariaovidiorum, Salgado et al., 2018
Holotype: Salgado, P., et al., 2018, Fig. 1, a–i
Type locality and horizon: Salton Sea, CA, USA (strain CCMP404)
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Original description: Salgado et al., 2018:
Description:
The cyst is globular in ventral and dorsal views, and almost round in apical and antapical views, without horns or large spines, although the second antapical plate (2’’’’) may have small spines. The epitheca is almost as long as the hypotheca.
The cingulum is excavated with its right end displaced posteriorly one cingular width. The cingulum descends one width without overhanging. The cingulum and sulcus are narrow and excavated. The cingulum is composed of six plates, c1–c6, which are non-reticulated with two rows of pores along their anterior and posterior margins.
The sulcus is composed of at least seven plates, Sa, left sulcal anterior (Ssa), right sulcal anterior (Sda), accessory sulcal anterior (Saca), left sulcal posterior (Ssp), right sulcal posterior (Sdp), and sulcal posterior (Sp; Fig. 2b).
Tabulation: The plate formula is Po, 4’, 0a, 5′′, 6c, ~7s, 5′′′, 0p, 2’’’’.
The Po is oval with a λ-shaped pore. The first apical plate (1’) is narrow, with a ventral pore on the right anterior side. This plate contacts the Po, while the contact with the anterior sulcal plate (Sa) is slight or absent. The third apical plate (3’) is four-sided. The second (2′′) and third (3′′) precingular plates are of similar size. The third, fifth (5′′), and sixth (6′′) precingular plates are five-sided. The fourth precingular plate (4′′) of other Gonyaulacales is absent. The hypotheca is composed of five postcingular and two antapical plates. Thecal plates are thick and strongly reticulated, with one pore within each reticule. Plate 1’ contacts on its left side 1′′ and 2’ and on its right side 4’ and 6′′. The second apical plate (2’) is the largest of the series and contacts 1’, 1′′, 2′′, 3′′, 3’, and 4’. Plate 3’ contacts 2’, 3′′, 5′′, and 4’. It is separated from the Po by a short suture of the contact of plates 2’ and 4’, but it can sometimes touch the Po with an evident separation between 2’ and 4’. Fourth apical plate (4’) is irregular and elongated. In addition to the Po, it contacts 1’, 2’, 3’, 5′′, and 6′′. The series of precingular plates is composed of large plates except 6′′, which is smaller than the others. The first precingular plate (1′′) contacts the anterior left part of Sa, 2′′, 2’, and 1’. Plate 2′′ is four-sided and contacts 3′′, 2’, and 1′′.
Plate 3′′ is five-sided, is located in right dorsal position, grows overlapping all its neighboring plates, 5′′, 3’, 2’, and 2′′, and is the key-stone plate in the sense given by Fensome et al. (1993). Plate 5′′ is five-sided and contacts 3’, 4’, 6′′, and 3′′. Plate 6′′ is the smallest of the series, square in shape, and contacts Sa, 1’, 4’, and 5′′, and in some cases 1′′.
In the hypotheca, the first postcingular plate (1′′′) is the smallest of the series and contacts 2′′′, 1’’’’, and Ssa. In some cases, plate Ssa may be visible behind this plate. The second (2′′′), third (3′′′), and fourth (4′′′) postcingular plates are the largest and form the main body of the hypotheca. The five-sided 2′′′ contacts 3′′′, 2’’’’, 1’’’’, and 1′′′. Plate 3′′′ overlaps its neighbors 4′′′, 2’’’’, and 2′′′ . Like 3′′′, plate 4′′′ is four-sided and contacts 3′′′, 2’’’’, and 5′′′. The fifth postcingular plate (5′′′) is almost square in shape. The first antapical plate (1’’’’) forms a thin list along its right side and hides the sulcal area. Plate 2’’’’ is almost square with a notch toward the sulcus, contacts 1’’’’, 2′′′, 3′′′, 4′′′, and 5′′′, and may have small spines.
Dimension:
length of 33.8–50.1 µm and width of 31.3–47.3 µm
Cells of strain CCMP404 range from 36.5 to 47.1 µm in length (mean and SD of 42.4 ± 2.6 µm length, n = 30) and from 34 to 45.3 µm in width (39.5 ± 2.6 µm width, n = 30).
Strain CCMP1720 ranges from 33.8 to 50.1 µm in length (40.4 ± 3.6 µm length, n = 30) and from 31.3 to 47.3 µm in width (37.3 ± 3.5 µm width, n = 30). Cell depth in both strains is almost equal to cell width.
Remarks:
The cells show numerous chloroplasts which radiate from the central part of the cell, a centrally located U-shaped nucleus with the tips ventrally directed and, in some cases, one or two large orange bodies in the posterior part of the hypotheca.
Affinities:
C. mariaovidiorum is the species most different from other ceratocoryoids as well as the species most alike to the genus Protoceratium. In addition to having smaller cells, C. mariaovidiorum differs mainly in shape from other members of the genus. In general, they have an angular body, with the exception of C. gourretii, which is subspherical to ovoid, C. horrida being the most angular (Graham 1942), while C. mariaovidiorum is almost spherical.
The contact variability between the 1a and Po plates has also been observed in P. reticulatum cells. it is quite likely that plates 1a and 30 are homologous in both P. reticulatum and C. Mariaovidiorum. The thecal surface of Ceratocorys mariaovidiorum is very similar to that described for P. Reticulatum (Balech 1988). The main morphological differences between C. mariaovidiorum and P. reticulatum are the number of precingular plates—five in the former and six in the later—and the amount of apparent contact of Sa with 1’, which is considerable in P. reticulatum, whereas in C. mariaovidiorum it is slight or absent. Additionally, these two species differ in the shape of the apical pore, which is λ-shaped in C. mariaovidiorum and is a narrow unbranched slit in P. Reticulatum. Another morphological feature that makes a difference between Ceratocorys mariaovidiorum and Protoceratium reticulatum is the presence of small antapical spines in C. mariaovidiorum, although this ornamentation is a variable trait that is not expressed in the same way in all individuals. Some cells had small spines, others had larger ones that can be clearly seen in light microscopy, while yet others did not seem to have them. such spines have not been reported in P. reticulatum.
Holotype: Salgado, P., et al., 2018, Fig. 1, a–i
Type locality and horizon: Salton Sea, CA, USA (strain CCMP404)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original description: Salgado et al., 2018:
Description:
The cyst is globular in ventral and dorsal views, and almost round in apical and antapical views, without horns or large spines, although the second antapical plate (2’’’’) may have small spines. The epitheca is almost as long as the hypotheca.
The cingulum is excavated with its right end displaced posteriorly one cingular width. The cingulum descends one width without overhanging. The cingulum and sulcus are narrow and excavated. The cingulum is composed of six plates, c1–c6, which are non-reticulated with two rows of pores along their anterior and posterior margins.
The sulcus is composed of at least seven plates, Sa, left sulcal anterior (Ssa), right sulcal anterior (Sda), accessory sulcal anterior (Saca), left sulcal posterior (Ssp), right sulcal posterior (Sdp), and sulcal posterior (Sp; Fig. 2b).
Tabulation: The plate formula is Po, 4’, 0a, 5′′, 6c, ~7s, 5′′′, 0p, 2’’’’.
The Po is oval with a λ-shaped pore. The first apical plate (1’) is narrow, with a ventral pore on the right anterior side. This plate contacts the Po, while the contact with the anterior sulcal plate (Sa) is slight or absent. The third apical plate (3’) is four-sided. The second (2′′) and third (3′′) precingular plates are of similar size. The third, fifth (5′′), and sixth (6′′) precingular plates are five-sided. The fourth precingular plate (4′′) of other Gonyaulacales is absent. The hypotheca is composed of five postcingular and two antapical plates. Thecal plates are thick and strongly reticulated, with one pore within each reticule. Plate 1’ contacts on its left side 1′′ and 2’ and on its right side 4’ and 6′′. The second apical plate (2’) is the largest of the series and contacts 1’, 1′′, 2′′, 3′′, 3’, and 4’. Plate 3’ contacts 2’, 3′′, 5′′, and 4’. It is separated from the Po by a short suture of the contact of plates 2’ and 4’, but it can sometimes touch the Po with an evident separation between 2’ and 4’. Fourth apical plate (4’) is irregular and elongated. In addition to the Po, it contacts 1’, 2’, 3’, 5′′, and 6′′. The series of precingular plates is composed of large plates except 6′′, which is smaller than the others. The first precingular plate (1′′) contacts the anterior left part of Sa, 2′′, 2’, and 1’. Plate 2′′ is four-sided and contacts 3′′, 2’, and 1′′.
Plate 3′′ is five-sided, is located in right dorsal position, grows overlapping all its neighboring plates, 5′′, 3’, 2’, and 2′′, and is the key-stone plate in the sense given by Fensome et al. (1993). Plate 5′′ is five-sided and contacts 3’, 4’, 6′′, and 3′′. Plate 6′′ is the smallest of the series, square in shape, and contacts Sa, 1’, 4’, and 5′′, and in some cases 1′′.
In the hypotheca, the first postcingular plate (1′′′) is the smallest of the series and contacts 2′′′, 1’’’’, and Ssa. In some cases, plate Ssa may be visible behind this plate. The second (2′′′), third (3′′′), and fourth (4′′′) postcingular plates are the largest and form the main body of the hypotheca. The five-sided 2′′′ contacts 3′′′, 2’’’’, 1’’’’, and 1′′′. Plate 3′′′ overlaps its neighbors 4′′′, 2’’’’, and 2′′′ . Like 3′′′, plate 4′′′ is four-sided and contacts 3′′′, 2’’’’, and 5′′′. The fifth postcingular plate (5′′′) is almost square in shape. The first antapical plate (1’’’’) forms a thin list along its right side and hides the sulcal area. Plate 2’’’’ is almost square with a notch toward the sulcus, contacts 1’’’’, 2′′′, 3′′′, 4′′′, and 5′′′, and may have small spines.
Dimension:
length of 33.8–50.1 µm and width of 31.3–47.3 µm
Cells of strain CCMP404 range from 36.5 to 47.1 µm in length (mean and SD of 42.4 ± 2.6 µm length, n = 30) and from 34 to 45.3 µm in width (39.5 ± 2.6 µm width, n = 30).
Strain CCMP1720 ranges from 33.8 to 50.1 µm in length (40.4 ± 3.6 µm length, n = 30) and from 31.3 to 47.3 µm in width (37.3 ± 3.5 µm width, n = 30). Cell depth in both strains is almost equal to cell width.
Remarks:
The cells show numerous chloroplasts which radiate from the central part of the cell, a centrally located U-shaped nucleus with the tips ventrally directed and, in some cases, one or two large orange bodies in the posterior part of the hypotheca.
Affinities:
C. mariaovidiorum is the species most different from other ceratocoryoids as well as the species most alike to the genus Protoceratium. In addition to having smaller cells, C. mariaovidiorum differs mainly in shape from other members of the genus. In general, they have an angular body, with the exception of C. gourretii, which is subspherical to ovoid, C. horrida being the most angular (Graham 1942), while C. mariaovidiorum is almost spherical.
The contact variability between the 1a and Po plates has also been observed in P. reticulatum cells. it is quite likely that plates 1a and 30 are homologous in both P. reticulatum and C. Mariaovidiorum. The thecal surface of Ceratocorys mariaovidiorum is very similar to that described for P. Reticulatum (Balech 1988). The main morphological differences between C. mariaovidiorum and P. reticulatum are the number of precingular plates—five in the former and six in the later—and the amount of apparent contact of Sa with 1’, which is considerable in P. reticulatum, whereas in C. mariaovidiorum it is slight or absent. Additionally, these two species differ in the shape of the apical pore, which is λ-shaped in C. mariaovidiorum and is a narrow unbranched slit in P. Reticulatum. Another morphological feature that makes a difference between Ceratocorys mariaovidiorum and Protoceratium reticulatum is the presence of small antapical spines in C. mariaovidiorum, although this ornamentation is a variable trait that is not expressed in the same way in all individuals. Some cells had small spines, others had larger ones that can be clearly seen in light microscopy, while yet others did not seem to have them. such spines have not been reported in P. reticulatum.