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Moria

From Williams et al., 2017:

[Moria, Sluijs et al., 2009, p. 50.

Type species: Moria zachosii, Sluijs et al., 2009 (pl.1, figs.1–4)]

Stratigraphic occurrence: Late Eocene of the East Tasman Plateau and South Tasman Rise; Southwest Pacific Ocean.

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Original description: [Sluijs et al., 2009]:

Diagnosis:
A peridiniacean dinocyst with three wall layers and with the pericyst separated from the ectocyst by columellae. The 2a plate is isodeltaform hexa.

Description:
Proximate, subspherical to pentagonal, cornucavate peridinioid cysts with the pericyst having one apical and two, unequal antapical horns. The endocyst is thin and psilate. The pericyst is ornamented with evenly distributed columellae, some of which may form penitabular rows that indicate a tabulation of 4', 3a, 7", xc, 5"', 2"". Distally, the columellae fuse to support a thin, psilate ectophragm.
Cingulum and sulcus ornamented and indented.
The archeopyle is intercalary, resulting from the loss of the isodeltaform 2a or all three anterior intercalary plates (type I or 3I). The operculum is usually free.

Remarks:
Moria is the only known peridiniacean dinocyst with a hexa 2a and an ectophragm that is supported by columellae arising from the periphragm. Similar structures are found in some wetzelielloideans, but these have a quadra 2a plate.
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