Dictyophimus crisiae |
New comment/discussion
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Revised Benson (1966) taxonomy
Richard N. Benson (29/01/2004) |
In 2003, Richard N. Benson and Kjell Bjørklund revised the taxonomy of the Gulf of California radiolarian species to conform to modern usage. Some of the names of Benson (1966 and 1983) were changed accordingly. See synonymy for previously used names for this taxon.
In assigning this species to Dictyophimus crisiae, I find that the features of the Gulf of California species conform best to the remarks of Nigrini and Moore (1979, p. N33):
“2. There has been some confusion between this species and a form referred to as Pterocorys hirundo Haeckel. The form here described as Dictyophimus crisiae Ehrenberg is unusually robust. Even incomplete specimens are thick-walled. The appendages are definitely wings, not feet and project from the thorax above the lumbar stricture.”
The Gulf specimens have conical or cylindrical feet (not three-bladed feet described for Pterocorys hirundo) which diverge widely and are either straight or curve slightly outward. Whether or not they should be considered wings is a matter of judgment. Illustrations, from the literature, of species showing three-bladed feet were considered representing Pterocorys hirundo and were omitted from the synonymy, although they closely resemble Dictyophimus crisiae.
One much larger specimen but one having the features of Dictyophimus crisiae is shown in Benson, 1966, pl. 28, fig. 6. It is identified as Dictyophimus crisiae(?).
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