Toritenum, Dumitrica & Zügel, 2003

Dumitrica, Paulian & Zügel, Peter, 2003, Lower Tithonian mono- and dicyrtid Nassellaria (Radiolaria) from the Solnhofen area (southern Germany), Geodiversitas 25 (1), pp. 5-72 : 50

Genus Toritenum n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Toritenum hirsutum n. gen., n. sp.

ETYMOLOGY. — The name is an anagram of the genus Tertonium n. gen. Neuter gender.

KNOWN RANGE. — Lower Pliensbachian to lower Tithonian.

DIAGNOSIS. — Test conical with or without a well developed apical horn, with the spines of the initial spicule not protruding. Thorax with a variable number of circumferential ridges separated by depressionary intervals bearing transverse rows of pores. Distal part of thorax widely open.

REMARKS

This new genus resembles Tertonium n. gen. from which it only differs by not having the spines D, V, and the two L of the initial spicule extended outside. The genus is rather well represented in the lower Tithonian assemblage of sample Mue 22. A species assignable to this genus was illustrated by Takemura (1986), Hattori (1989), and Yao (1997) as Parvicingula (?) obesa Takemura, 1986 from probably Bajocian manganese concretions ( Unuma echinatus Zone ) of Japan. Another species was illustrated by Kiessling (1999: pl. 15, figs 1, 2) as Eucyrtidium (?) sp. from the lower Tithonian of Antarctic Peninsula, and the oldest but not yet described was found by us in the lower Pliensbachian fauna of Turkey partly studied by De Wever (1982).