Protozoa - Actinommacea - Xiphostylidae

Named by P. Dumitrica, S. Gorican & P. Whalen.

Original description: Cortical shell subspherical with three triradiate spines at approximately 120 to each other. Meshwork of cortical shell delicate, composed of thin bars forming a dense spongy pattern arranged in concentric layers. Superficial layer of mature specimens with small but distinct nodes. Spines long, dextrally torsioned, with pointed tip; degree of torsion and length of torsioned portion variable.

Original remarks: Tripocyclia tortuosa n. sp. differs from other related species by having torsioned spines. From Spongotripus incomptus Carter 1988 it further differs by having much longer spines and a less dense and triangular test. In the structure of the nodose shell surface, Tripocyclia tortuosa n. sp. is the most similar to Alievium juskatlaensis Carter 1988 but the latter species has straight spines. Our specimens are not well enough preserved to make equatorial sections in order to know the structure of the microsphere, but specimens with a superficially similar test and very slightly torsioned spines from the Bajocian of Japan (sample IN 7 of Yao, 1997) show in their center a microsphere similar to that of Paronaella.

Etymology: From Latin: tortuosus, -a, -um - tortuous, referring to torsioned spines.

Full reference: S. Gorican, E. S. Carter, P. Dumitrica, P. A. Whalen, R. S. Hori, P. De Wever, L. O'Dogherty, A. Matsuoka, and J. Guex. 2006. Catalogue and systematics of Pliensbachian, Toarcian and Aalenian radiolarian genera and species 446

Belongs to Tripocyclia according to S. Gorican et al. 2006

Sister taxa: Tripocyclia brooksi, Tripocyclia crassa, Tripocyclia foremanae, Tripocyclia mascula, Tripocyclia smithi, Tripocyclia southforkensis, Tripocyclia trigonum

Type specimen: BR523-R02-04 (pl. SPT01, fig. 1).

Ecology: passively mobile planktonic omnivore

Distribution:

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Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.