A forum on Neogene and quaternary dinoflagellate cysts: The edited transcript of a round table discussion held at the third workshop on Neogene and Quaternary dinoflagellates; with taxonomic appendix

Abstract

An edited transcript is presented for discussions on more than 24 taxa of Neogene and Quaternary dinoflagellates, chosen either as being in some way taxonomically problematical or because they hold unusual interest concerning their morphology, (paleo)ecology, or biostratigraphy. These discussions took place at the Third Workshop on Neogene and Quaternary Dinoflagellates and are based on observations of numerous holotypes and other type materials, often with the author of the taxon in attendance. Provisional stratigraphic ranges are given for taxa discussed.

A taxonomic appendix by M.J. Head deals formally with selected taxa discussed at the workshop. The important Late Cenozoic genus Filisphaera Bujak 1984 is emended to include only those specimens with a septate/microreticulate periphragm. Its type, Filisphaera filifera Bujak 1984, is also emended and the subspecies Filisphaera filifera filifera is created by autonymy and defined. Filisphaera pilosa Matsuoka & Bujak 1988 is emended and reduced in status to Filisphaera filifera subsp. pilosa. The genus Muraticysta Head et al. 1989a is now regarded as a taxonomic junior synonym of Filisphaera Bujak 1984 emend, nov. and the new combination Filisphaera microomata (basio‐nym = Muraticysta microomata Head et al. 1989a) is proposed for its type. Filisphaera(?) minuta Strauss & Lund 1992 is questionably included in this genus pending further information about its wall structure.