Spiniferites twistringiensis

twistringiensis (Maier, 1959, p.308-309, pl.30, figs.3-4) Fensome et al., 1990, p.639.  Holotype: Maier, 1959, pl.30, fig.3; Sarjeant, 1983, pl.5, fig.3.  Originally Galea (generic name illegitimate), subsequently Baltisphaeridium (Appendix A), thirdly Areoligera, fourthly (and now) Spiniferites.  Taxonomic junior synonyms: (at specific rank) Hystrichosphaera ramosa var. multibrevis (subsequently Spiniferites multibrevis), according to Sarjeant (1983, p.94-95); Achomosphaera (al. Spiniferites) cambra, by implication in Jain (1982, p.51), who considered this species to be a taxonomic junior synonym of Hystrichosphaera ramosa var. multibrevis (as Spiniferites ramosus subsp. multibrevis).  According to Fensome et al. (1990, p.639): "The species name Galea twistringiensis is validly published even though the generic name Galea is illegitimate; see I.C.B.N. Article 68.1[Article 55.1 in the 1994 I.C.B.N.].  Lentin and Williams (1985, p.140,333) and Lentin and Williams (1989, p.347) brought together the synonymies proposed by Jain (1982) and Sarjeant (1983), but also accepted the elevation of the variety (and later subspecies) 'multibrevis' to specific rank as Spiniferites multibrevis.  Lentin and Williams (1985,1989) considered the epithet 'multibrevis' to be senior.  Since the latter epithet was not raised to specific rank until Below (1982c, p.35) did so, the epithets 'twistringiensis' (validly published in 1964) and 'cambrus' (erected in 1970) are both senior to 'multibrevis' at specific rank.  Thus, following the synonymies cited above and considering this taxon at specific rank, the correct name is Spiniferites twistringiensis ....  The specific epithet has commonly been misspelled 'twistringense'." Age: Mid Miocene.

Parent: Spiniferites