Apical plate

In the Kofoid tabulation system, a plate contacting the apical pore complex. Some authors have interpreted this definition strictly whereas others have included as apical plates those plates which do not contact the apical pore complex but which they deem to be homologous with plates that do touch the apical pore complex in other taxa (refer to Text-Figure 15). In the Eaton tabulation system, an apical plate is one that is anterior to, and contiguous with, one or more precingular plates. In dinophysialeans, a plate in close contact with the ventral pore and not included in the epithecal series or sulcal series.