Morphometric analysis of Eocene nummulitids in western and central Cuba: taxonomy, biostratigraphy and evolutionary trends
Author
Torres-Silva, Ana. I.
Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria;
Author
Eder, Wolfgang
Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria;
Author
Hohenegger, Johann
Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria;
Author
Briguglio, Antonino
Dipartimento di Scienze della, Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Universita ́ degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26, I- 16132 Genova, Italy
text
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
2018
2018-04-13
17
7
557
595
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2018.1446462
journal article
10.1080/14772019.2018.1446462
1478-0941
PMC6474738
31057335
10883523
Heterostegina cubana
Cizancourt, 1947
(
Fig. 18C
)
1947
Heterostegina cubana
de Cizancourt
: 518, pl. 25, figs 4, 5.
2017
Heterostegina cubana
de Cizancourt
; Torres-Silva, Hohenegger, Cori ́́c, Briguglio, & Eder: 57, fig. 10E.
Material.
Ten megalospheric specimens in equatorial section and numerous random thin sections from Loma Candelaria section (98LC-1).
Description.
External features.
Test involute, flattened, biconvex, with diameter of the megalospheric forms ranging from 4.1 to 5.9 mm. The piles appear more pronounced near the central portion of the test. No trace of septal sutures and secondary chamberlets is visible due to bad preservation of the individuals at the Loma Candelaria locality.
Cizancourt’s (1947)
original description is based on specimens with a granulate surface and primary and secondary septa forming the typical reticulate network in
Heterostegina
, and with septal sutures slightly curved towards the periphery.
Internal features.
Megalospheric generation characterized by large mean proloculus diameter value (0.25 mm) followed by a second reniform chamber and by a rapidly increasing, loosely coiled spiral. Primary septa with stronger backwards bend angle form elongated chambers, which increase in height during ontogeny. After the second chamber, one to five operculinid chambers (undivided chambers) are followed by chambers subdivided into chamberlets by very incompletely developed secondary septa or septula. The first chamberlet closest to the marginal spiral is extremely elongated compared to peripheral chamberlets. Chambers subdivided by complete septula form rectangular chamberlets.
Figure 18. A, B, D–H,
Heterostegina ocalana
Cushman
;
A,
Loma Viǵıa, CA-216-D1a;
B,
Norona, NOR-UN 15/14;
D,
Loma Viǵıa, CA-216-79;
E, F,
Loma Jabaco;
E,
LM-52-756;
F,
LM-52-752;
G, H,
Norona, NOR-UN 24.
C,
Heterostegina cubana
Cizancourt, Loma
candelaria, 98LC-1H-809.
I,
Heterostegina
sp.
indet., Loma Candelaria, 98LC-1H-808.
A, B,
A forms in axial section;
C–G, I,
A forms in equatorial section;
H,
external view.
Occurrences.
Late middle Eocene to late Eocene, NP 16/ 17, Loma Candela Formation.
Remarks.
Heterostegina cubana
was first described from the late Eocene of western
Cuba
by
Cizancourt (1947)
and was almost unrecorded until Cole (1957) considered it a synonym of
Heterostegina ocalana
. This species is distinguished by its characteristic incomplete septula and larger proloculus.
Caudri (1996)
reported
Heterostegina indicata
with very incompletely developed or absent septa in the basal late Eocene of
Trinidad
. As suggested by
Caudri (1996)
for Trinitarian species,
H. cubana
could also be a transitional form between operculinid and heterosteginid morphologies. Note, however, that
H. indicata
has a complete evolute enrolment similar to
Planostegina
and
Planoperculina
, whereas
H. cubana
shows a distinct thickening of the central test.
Stratigraphical and geographical distribution.
Late middle Eocene to late Eocene (Bartonian to early Priabonian);
Cuba
.