Saitulpus retrospina, 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 : 31

Saitulpus retrospina n. sp. ( Fig. 17 A-D)

HOLOTYPE. — Photo No. 60092; stub Mue 22/23; Musée de Géologie , Lausanne, No. 74390 ( Fig. 17A ). ETYMOLOGY. — From the Latin retro: back; and spina: spine.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Seven specimens from the type horizon (sample Mue 22).

DIMENSIONS ( IN µM). — Length of cephalis 36-41 (av. 38), of feet 30-55 (av. 40), of apical horn 32-46 (av. 36), of spines on feet 16-32 (av. 21), width of cephalis 46-51 (av. 48).

DESCRIPTION

Cephalis very small, globular, thin-walled, with pores of various size, arrangement, and shape, most of them rounded polygonal. Apical horn and feet three-bladed, usually slightly torsioned, with a verticil of three secondary spines. Spines long, recurved, with denticles or very small thorns on the external, convex side. Beyond the verticil distal ends of apical horn and feet point- ed, shorter than the proximal portion between cephalis and verticil. Arches Al marked by a weak constriction. Ventral spine very short outside cephalic wall, inclined about 45° above the horizontal plane of shell. Arch AV not well marked.

REMARKS

The species is very well distinguished from the other species of the genus by the long, recurved spines on feet and apical horn.

Figures

FIG. 17. — A-D, Saitulpus retrospina n. gen., n. sp.; A, holotype, with foot of the left primary lateral spine broken off, right lateral view; B-D, paratypes; B, C, left lateral and basal views; D, left lateral view; E, Saitulpus sp. aff. S. retrospina n. gen., n. sp., dorsal view; F, G, Saitulpus spinipes n. gen., n. sp., holotype, dorsal and basal views. Scale bars: 30 µm.