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Cyst of Nia acanthocysta

Zonneveld, K.A.F. and Pospelova V. (2015). A determination key for modern dinoflagellate cysts. Palynology 39 (3), 387- 409.

 

lateral view
photograph Vera Pospelova

cross section
photograph Vera Pospelova

lateral view
photograph Vera Pospelova

Field characteristics

Cysts of Nia acanthocysta Liu et al., 2015 (Kawami 2006)

Characteristics: 
Small to intermediate, spherical to subspherical, microgranulate light brown cysts covered with many solid spines. Autogram laevigate. Spines are mere than eighty in number, non-tabular in distribution, acicular, and slightly curved, with a cingular cross section at the base. Paratabulation reflected by the archeopyle only. Archeopyle theropylic, with a zig-zag principal archeopyle suture consisting of one long and four short sides. Three sides appear to represent complete sutures whereas others do not along boundaries of the 1a/2”, 3’/2a and 3’/5”. Archeopyle encirculing approximately 2/3 to 3/4th of the cyst.

Dimensions: diameter of cyst body 38 – 45 µm; length of processes: 6 to 8 µm.
Motile affinity: Nia acanthocysta
Stratigraphic range: recent
 
comparison with other species: This species resembles most that of E. zonneveldii in having non evenly distributed solid processes. However, it differs from this species in having circular process bases.