Lychnothamnus major

Lychnothamnus major(Grambast & Paul, 1965)

Soulié-Märsche, 1989

(Fig. 8 H-K)

Rhabdochara major Grambast & Paul, 1965: 241, 242, pl. 2, figs 1-4.

Lychnothamnus major – Soulié-Märsche 1989: 159.

DISTRIBUTION. — Lychnothamnus major has hitherto been recorded from numerous European sites of various ages within the Rupelian. In France, this species occurs in the Paris (Grambast & Paul 1965; Riveline 1986), Aquitaine (Feist & Ringeade 1977), Provence (Feist-Castel 1977a) and Languedoc (Grambast 1962) basins. In Germany, this species has been documented by Feist-Castel (1977a) and Schwarz (1985). Moreover, Kissling (1974) reported this species in the western sector of the Swiss Molasse and Baciu and Feist (1999) from north-western Romania. In Spain, it has already been described from some localities of the Ebro Basin by Choi (1989) and we found it in Sarral and El Talladell (Table 4).

DESCRIPTION

Gyrogonites very large, 780-1000 µm high (mean 900 µm) and 680-840 µm wide (mean 780 µm), ellipsoidal in shape with an isopolarity index ranging from 105-128, (average 117). Spiral cells in the apical zone show a remarkably constant width, which results in a flat apex. Ŋe base is tapered with a star-shaped basal pore, about 180 µm in diameter. Eight to nine (frequently eight) cells visible laterally. Ŋese are normally concave, about 118 µm in width, non-ornamented and separated by prominent sutures which in some specimens are bicarinate.

REMARK

Many authors have reported that transitional morphotypes occur between L. stockmansi and L. major (Feist-Castel 1977a; Baciu & Feist 1999).