Spiniferites ramosus
*ramosus (Ehrenberg, 1837b, pl.1, fig.15) Mantell, 1854, p.239. Holotype: not designated. Lectotype: Ehrenberg, 1837b, pl.1, fig.15, designated by Davey and Williams (1966a, p.32). Originally Xanthidium ramosum (Appendix A), subsequently (and now) Spiniferites ramosus, thirdly Hystrichosphaera ramosa, fourthly Ovum hispidum subsp. ramosum (combination not validly published, Appendix A), fifthly Bion ramosum (Appendix A). Sarjeant (1970, p.75) retained this species in Spiniferites. Taxonomic junior synonyms: Xanthidium (as Hystrichosphaera) furcatum, according to Davey and Williams (1966a, p.29–33); Galea korykos and Hystrichosphaeridium echinoides, both according to Sarjeant (1983, p.91–92); Areoligera birama, according to Morgenroth (1968, p.550); Geodia? tripunctata, by implication in Sarjeant (1964a, p.175), who considered Geodia? tripunctata to be a taxonomic junior synonym of Xanthidium (as Hystrichosphaera) furcatum; Hystrichosphaera (subsequently Spiniferites) bulloidea, according to Harland (1977b, p.101–102) — however, Lentin and Williams (1981, p.259) retained Hystrichosphaera (as Spiniferites) bulloidea; Homotryblium distinctum, according to Jain and Garg (1982, p.69), who considered Homotryblium distinctum to be a taxonomic junior synonym of Spiniferites ramosus subsp. ramosus. Motile equivalent: Gonyaulax spinifera (Claparède and Lachmann, 1859) Diesing, 1866, according to Dodge (1989, p.289). The validity/authorship of this name may need to be reconsidered as it appears that Ehrenberg (1837b) did not provide a description. Age: Late Cretaceous.
Infrataxon List:
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. aquilus
"Spiniferites ramosus subsp. aulosphaeropsis"
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. brevifurcatus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. brevirugosus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. cavispinosus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. cingulatus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. endoperforatus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. gracilis
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. granomembranaceus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. granosus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. maeandriformis
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. multibrachiatus
"Spiniferites ramosus subsp. multibrevis"
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. multiplicatus
"Spiniferites ramosus subsp. pachydermus"
"Spiniferites ramosus subsp. primaevus"
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. pterocoelus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. ramosus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. reticulatus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. septoperforatus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. spinosus
Spiniferites ramosus subsp. ulcus
"Spiniferites ramosus var. angustus"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. brevifurcatus"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. endoperforatus"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. gracilis"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. granomembranaceus"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. granosus"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. maeandriformis"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. multibrevis"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. ramosus"
"Spiniferites ramosus var. reticulatus"