Arachnoplecta, 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 : 14

Genus Arachnoplecta n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Arachnoplecta architectonica n. gen., n. sp.

ETYMOLOGY. — From the Greek arachne: spider; and plecta: hunting net. Feminine gender.

DIAGNOSIS. — Plagiacanthidae with initial spicule consisting of long and equally developed apical, dorsal, and primary lateral spines, and a shorter ventral spine, all of them originating in a short median bar. Apical, dorsal and primary lateral spines non-bladed but with four netlike structures radiating in two perpendicular planes. Each plane net-like structure supported at its base by a bar closely aligned to the spine representing one blade in a four-bladed spine. Ventral spine simple, with straight branches diverging also in four perpendicular directions.

REMARKS

Arachnoplecta n. gen. differs from all other plagiacanthids described so far by having four net-like structures around each spine in two perpendicular planes.