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Spiniferites
From Williams et al., 2017:
[Spiniferites, Mantell, 1850, p. 191; Emendation: Sarjeant, 1970, p. 75; Sarjeant, 1981, p. 108
Taxonomic junior synonyms:
- Hafniasphaera, according to Stover and Williams (1987, p.117) — however, Edwards (1996, p.989) retained Hafniasphaera;
- Hystrichokibotium, by implication in Gocht (1969, p.32), who considered Hystrichokibotium to be a taxonomic junior synonym of Hystrichosphaera;
- Rivernookia, according to Stover and Williams (1987, p.195) — however, Rivernookia is now considered a taxonomic junior synonym of Hafniasphaera;
- Achomosphaera, according to Duxbury (1983, p.54–55) — however, Lentin and Williams (1989, p.3) retained Achomosphaera;
Loeblich Jr. and Loeblich III (1966, p.56–57) designated Spiniferites ramosus as the "type species" of Spiniferites. Fensome et al. (1993b, p.93) considered Spiniferites to be the possible taxonomic senior synonym of Gonyaulax. I.C.N. Article 11.7 now stipulates that names based on extant types take priority over names based on fossil types, so if the two genera are considered synonymous, Gonyaulax should now have priority. However, I.C.N. Article 11.1 makes allowance for dual taxonomy for fossils (see Introduction).
Type species: Spiniferites ramosus (Ehrenberg, 1838) Loeblich and Loeblich, 1966; originally: Ehrenberg, 1837b, pl.1, fig.15, as Xanthidium ramosum — lectotype designated by Davey and Williams (1966a, p.32).
Translations: Stover and Evitt, 1978
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Original description as Hystrichosphaera: [O. Wetzel 1933, p. 33]:
Description:
Subspherical shell with spiny processes in the shape given as characteristic for the family, but without the threefold metameric division of the body and without a closed aliform lamella, an outer shell membrane or outer network.
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Emended description as Hystrichosphaera:
Deflandre, 1937, p. 61:
Description:
The shells, spherical, subspherical or ovoidal, are divided into polygonal fields by projecting suture lines. Always present area series of elongated equatorial fields, disposed in a helicoid girdle and ending in most cases in the vicinity of a more or less well-delimited triangular field. The processes or appendages, diversely developed, always arise from the points of junctions of the sutural lines, whether these are strongly developed or not.
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Davey and Williams, 1966, p. 29:
Description:
Chorate to proximo-chorate cysts possessing a subspherical or ovoidal central body with a clearly defined reflected tabulation of 3-4`, 6``, 6c, 5```, 0-1p, 1````, plate 6`` being generally reduced or triangular. Wall of central body composed of two layers, an inner endophragm and an outer periphragm. Cingulum always disposed in a laevo-rotatory spiral. Plate boundaries indicated by variably developed sutural crests or membranes, and gonal and sutural processes. Processes open or closed, solid or hollow, simple or branching. Length of processes variable, sometimes not extending beyond sutural crests, apical pole often marked by an elongate process.
Archeopyle precingular, formed by loss of refelcted plate 3``.
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Emended description as Spiniferites:
Sarjeant, 1970:
Description:
Chorate to proximochorate cysts, possessing a subspherical to ovoidal body, with a clearly defined reflected tabulation of 3-4`, 6``, 6c, 5```, 0-1p, 1````; plate 6`` is generally reduced and triangular. Wall of central body composed of two principal layers, an inner endophragm and an outer periphragm, which are in general contact except at the points of origin of outgrowths from the shell.
Cingulum, disposed in laevo-rotatory spiral. Plate boundaries indicated by variably developed sutural crests or membranes and gonal and sutural processes.
Processes typically with closed tips, solid or hollow, simple, branching, or ramifying in complex fashion. Length of processes variable, sometimes not extending beyond sutural crests; apical pole often marked by an elongate process.
Archaeopyle precingular, formed by loss of reflected plate 3``; the operculum typically or constantly becomes completely detached.
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Sarjeant, 1981:
Diagnosis:
Cyst broadly ovoidal to subpolygonal, chorate, spiniferate. Processes gonal in situation, infundibular to buccinate. Distally the processes are bifurcate to tetrafurcate, normally with acute to subacute, simple branches of short to moderate length; on a very few processes the branches may be very briefly bifurcate or trifurcate, but they never ramify. Proximately, the processes flare only slightly or not at all; they are linked together by low sutural crests.
Paratabulation 4`, 0a, 6``, ?5-6c, 6```, 0?-1p, 1````.
Archaeopyle precingular (type P), formed by loss of paraplate 3``: operculum normally free.
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Modified description as Spiniferites:
Stover and Evitt 1978, p. 189-191:
Synopsis:
Cysts proximochorate to skolochorate; body subspherical bearing only gonal or gonal and intergonal processes; processes joined at their bases by parasutural ridges or septa and not interconnected at their tips; gonal processes distally trifurcate, intergonal ones bifurcate; paratabulation gonyaulacacean, indicated mainly by parasutural ridges and septa; archeopyle precingular, Type P.
Description:
Shape: Body subspherical.
Wall Relationships: Parasutural features are ridges or septa connecting process bases. Processes solid or (rarely) hollow, gonal only or gonal and intergonal; process tips characteristically trifurcate (gonal) or bifurcate (intergonal); all primary furcations may be additionally bifurcate one or more times. Closely spaced processes tend to fuse from bases upward. Wall between processes and parasutural features smooth to variously ornamented with features of low relief; wall rarely thick and structured.
Paratabulation: Indicated by parasutural ridges or septa combined with processes; gonyaulacacean, formula 3-4`, 5-6``, 6c, 5-6```, 1p, 1````.
Parasutural boundaries may fail to define paraplates 4`, 6``, 1``` and sulcal paraplates.
Archeopyle: Precingular, Type P (3`` only), typically reduced; operculum free.
Paracingulum: Clearly indicated by parasutural features; spiral, end usually offset by more than one paracingulum width.
Parasulcus: Limits partly indicated by parasutural features; constituent paraplates rarely defined.
Size: Small to large.
Remark: (p. 190):
"include O. Wetzel`s (1933) statement for Hystrichosphaera as an original description, and those of Deflandre (1937), Davey and Williams in Davey et al. (1966), and Sarjeant (1970) as emended descriptions, because Mantell`s passage (given below) hardly constitutes a description, at least not by present standards;
"It would be convenient to distinguish these fossils by another name, and thus avoid perpetuation of the error (of Ehrenberg): I propose that of Spiniferites in allusion to the numerous spines with which all the species are beset.` - From Mantell (1850, p.191)."
Affinities:
Spiniferites differs from Achomosphaera in that parasutural ridges or septa connect the bases of processes. Such features are normally not present in Achomosphaera, which, however, may have faint linear markings between processes. Transitional forms are known, and their assignment to either genus is largely subjective.
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Notes:
G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.
Spiniferites Mantell, 1850, emend. Sarjeant, 1970. From the synopsis of Stover and Evitt (1978, p.189-190). Cysts proximochorate to skolochorate; body subspherical, bearing only gonal or gonal and intergonal processes; processes joined at their bases by parasutural ridges or septa and not interconnected at their tips; gonal processes distally trifurcate, intergonal ones bifurcate; paratabulation gonyaulacacean, indicated mainly by parasutural ridges and septa; archeopyle precingular, type P.
[Spiniferites, Mantell, 1850, p. 191; Emendation: Sarjeant, 1970, p. 75; Sarjeant, 1981, p. 108
Taxonomic junior synonyms:
- Hafniasphaera, according to Stover and Williams (1987, p.117) — however, Edwards (1996, p.989) retained Hafniasphaera;
- Hystrichokibotium, by implication in Gocht (1969, p.32), who considered Hystrichokibotium to be a taxonomic junior synonym of Hystrichosphaera;
- Rivernookia, according to Stover and Williams (1987, p.195) — however, Rivernookia is now considered a taxonomic junior synonym of Hafniasphaera;
- Achomosphaera, according to Duxbury (1983, p.54–55) — however, Lentin and Williams (1989, p.3) retained Achomosphaera;
Loeblich Jr. and Loeblich III (1966, p.56–57) designated Spiniferites ramosus as the "type species" of Spiniferites. Fensome et al. (1993b, p.93) considered Spiniferites to be the possible taxonomic senior synonym of Gonyaulax. I.C.N. Article 11.7 now stipulates that names based on extant types take priority over names based on fossil types, so if the two genera are considered synonymous, Gonyaulax should now have priority. However, I.C.N. Article 11.1 makes allowance for dual taxonomy for fossils (see Introduction).
Type species: Spiniferites ramosus (Ehrenberg, 1838) Loeblich and Loeblich, 1966; originally: Ehrenberg, 1837b, pl.1, fig.15, as Xanthidium ramosum — lectotype designated by Davey and Williams (1966a, p.32).
Translations: Stover and Evitt, 1978
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original description as Hystrichosphaera: [O. Wetzel 1933, p. 33]:
Description:
Subspherical shell with spiny processes in the shape given as characteristic for the family, but without the threefold metameric division of the body and without a closed aliform lamella, an outer shell membrane or outer network.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emended description as Hystrichosphaera:
Deflandre, 1937, p. 61:
Description:
The shells, spherical, subspherical or ovoidal, are divided into polygonal fields by projecting suture lines. Always present area series of elongated equatorial fields, disposed in a helicoid girdle and ending in most cases in the vicinity of a more or less well-delimited triangular field. The processes or appendages, diversely developed, always arise from the points of junctions of the sutural lines, whether these are strongly developed or not.
----------------------------------------------------
Davey and Williams, 1966, p. 29:
Description:
Chorate to proximo-chorate cysts possessing a subspherical or ovoidal central body with a clearly defined reflected tabulation of 3-4`, 6``, 6c, 5```, 0-1p, 1````, plate 6`` being generally reduced or triangular. Wall of central body composed of two layers, an inner endophragm and an outer periphragm. Cingulum always disposed in a laevo-rotatory spiral. Plate boundaries indicated by variably developed sutural crests or membranes, and gonal and sutural processes. Processes open or closed, solid or hollow, simple or branching. Length of processes variable, sometimes not extending beyond sutural crests, apical pole often marked by an elongate process.
Archeopyle precingular, formed by loss of refelcted plate 3``.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emended description as Spiniferites:
Sarjeant, 1970:
Description:
Chorate to proximochorate cysts, possessing a subspherical to ovoidal body, with a clearly defined reflected tabulation of 3-4`, 6``, 6c, 5```, 0-1p, 1````; plate 6`` is generally reduced and triangular. Wall of central body composed of two principal layers, an inner endophragm and an outer periphragm, which are in general contact except at the points of origin of outgrowths from the shell.
Cingulum, disposed in laevo-rotatory spiral. Plate boundaries indicated by variably developed sutural crests or membranes and gonal and sutural processes.
Processes typically with closed tips, solid or hollow, simple, branching, or ramifying in complex fashion. Length of processes variable, sometimes not extending beyond sutural crests; apical pole often marked by an elongate process.
Archaeopyle precingular, formed by loss of reflected plate 3``; the operculum typically or constantly becomes completely detached.
----------------------------------------------------
Sarjeant, 1981:
Diagnosis:
Cyst broadly ovoidal to subpolygonal, chorate, spiniferate. Processes gonal in situation, infundibular to buccinate. Distally the processes are bifurcate to tetrafurcate, normally with acute to subacute, simple branches of short to moderate length; on a very few processes the branches may be very briefly bifurcate or trifurcate, but they never ramify. Proximately, the processes flare only slightly or not at all; they are linked together by low sutural crests.
Paratabulation 4`, 0a, 6``, ?5-6c, 6```, 0?-1p, 1````.
Archaeopyle precingular (type P), formed by loss of paraplate 3``: operculum normally free.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modified description as Spiniferites:
Stover and Evitt 1978, p. 189-191:
Synopsis:
Cysts proximochorate to skolochorate; body subspherical bearing only gonal or gonal and intergonal processes; processes joined at their bases by parasutural ridges or septa and not interconnected at their tips; gonal processes distally trifurcate, intergonal ones bifurcate; paratabulation gonyaulacacean, indicated mainly by parasutural ridges and septa; archeopyle precingular, Type P.
Description:
Shape: Body subspherical.
Wall Relationships: Parasutural features are ridges or septa connecting process bases. Processes solid or (rarely) hollow, gonal only or gonal and intergonal; process tips characteristically trifurcate (gonal) or bifurcate (intergonal); all primary furcations may be additionally bifurcate one or more times. Closely spaced processes tend to fuse from bases upward. Wall between processes and parasutural features smooth to variously ornamented with features of low relief; wall rarely thick and structured.
Paratabulation: Indicated by parasutural ridges or septa combined with processes; gonyaulacacean, formula 3-4`, 5-6``, 6c, 5-6```, 1p, 1````.
Parasutural boundaries may fail to define paraplates 4`, 6``, 1``` and sulcal paraplates.
Archeopyle: Precingular, Type P (3`` only), typically reduced; operculum free.
Paracingulum: Clearly indicated by parasutural features; spiral, end usually offset by more than one paracingulum width.
Parasulcus: Limits partly indicated by parasutural features; constituent paraplates rarely defined.
Size: Small to large.
Remark: (p. 190):
"include O. Wetzel`s (1933) statement for Hystrichosphaera as an original description, and those of Deflandre (1937), Davey and Williams in Davey et al. (1966), and Sarjeant (1970) as emended descriptions, because Mantell`s passage (given below) hardly constitutes a description, at least not by present standards;
"It would be convenient to distinguish these fossils by another name, and thus avoid perpetuation of the error (of Ehrenberg): I propose that of Spiniferites in allusion to the numerous spines with which all the species are beset.` - From Mantell (1850, p.191)."
Affinities:
Spiniferites differs from Achomosphaera in that parasutural ridges or septa connect the bases of processes. Such features are normally not present in Achomosphaera, which, however, may have faint linear markings between processes. Transitional forms are known, and their assignment to either genus is largely subjective.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.
Spiniferites Mantell, 1850, emend. Sarjeant, 1970. From the synopsis of Stover and Evitt (1978, p.189-190). Cysts proximochorate to skolochorate; body subspherical, bearing only gonal or gonal and intergonal processes; processes joined at their bases by parasutural ridges or septa and not interconnected at their tips; gonal processes distally trifurcate, intergonal ones bifurcate; paratabulation gonyaulacacean, indicated mainly by parasutural ridges and septa; archeopyle precingular, type P.