Kittonia kempii P.A.Sims & D.M.Williams, 2022

Sims, Pat A. & Williams, David M., 2022, Description of the new species Kittonia kempii (Biddulphiales: Kittoniaceae) with comments on Kittonia hannai P. Lefébure & Chenevière and Kittonia gigantea (Greville) De Toni, Phytotaxa 573 (2), pp. 275-285 : 276

Kittonia kempii P.A.Sims & D.M.Williams sp. nov. ( Figs 1–7 )

Type:— New Zealand, DSDP 275 1-2, 64- 5 cm, “Southeast Campbell Plateau, Position: 50°26.34’S; 176°18.99’E […] Late Cretaceous”, New Zealand; see Shipboard Scientific Party (1975) (holotype BM 101972!, one specimen = Figs 1, 2 )

Etymology:— Named for the late Klaus Kemp (1937–2022) who found and mounted the holotype specimen.

Registration: http://phycobank.org/103337

Valve outline broadly oval with crenulated margin, two specimens found ( Figs 1, 2 , the holotype specimen, BM 101972; Figs 3–7 , SEM miCrographs): 36 x 127μm ( Figs 1, 2 ), 45 x 150μm ( Figs 3–7 ). Valve faCe gently Convex with depressed central area, small hyaline valve centre lying within ( Figs 5, 6 ). Well-developed marginal ridge separating valve from Crenulated mantle and margin, Ca. 7μm deep ( Figs 4–6 , arrows in Figs 5, 6 ). On valve faCe, towards pole, large hyaline area, stout tubular process with flattened summit at centre, angled towards valve margin, but not beyond it (second process presumed missing due to break in valve, Figs 1, 4 ). Ocellus-like structure on surface of subtriangular summit, Ca. 7.5μm wide with radial rows of five poroids surrounding hyaline margin ( Figs 1–5, 7 ). Areolae poroid arranged in rows radiating from valve Centre, Ca. 7 areolae in 10μm, 7 rows in 10μm ( Figs 1, 3–6 ). Areolae on valve face with raised rims and occluded by elaborate cribra ( Figs 1, 3–6 ). Mantle areolae in mostly vertical rows, cribra lying flush with valve surface ( Figs 5, 6 ).

Only two specimens have been found, both lack a significant part of the central area where the rimoportulae would normally have been situated.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7: Kittonia kempii Figs 1, 2. LM, one of two known speCimens, holotype BM 101972: 36μm x 137μm, Fig. 2, speCimen detail; Figs 3–7, SEM micrographs: Figs 3 and 4, internal view of valve; Figs 5–7, external view of valve, arrows indiCate ridge. SCale bars = 10μm (Figs 3, 4, 6), 5μm (Fig. 5), 1μm (Fig. 7)