Discoaster pugliese

Discoaster pugliese Varol & Bowman, 2024

2017 Discoaster stellimicros, Pospichal & Bergen in De Kaenel et al. (pro parte), pp. 229-230, Pl. 5, Fig. 26 (paratype); non Pl. 5, Figs. 27-28 (holotype)

Small species have a relatively large central area decorated with prominent sutural ridges and deep cavities. The inter-arm area is shallow and rounded. Distinct proximal ridges form a platform that adorns the strongly bulging proximal side. The arms of the segments are very short (less than half of the diameter of the central area) and terminate in obtuse-angled shallow bifurcation.

In honour of Raimondo Pugliese, Wellsite Geologist, Miami, Florida, USA.

Maximum diameter: 6.64 µm, Diameter of the central area: 4.08 µm, Length of the arms: 1.28 µm (including bifurcation); diameter of inter-arm area: 0.96 (measurements from bright field micrograph).

Discoaster pugliesei differs from Discoaster catillomicros and Discoaster stellimicros by having round, almost enclosed inter-arm areas, whilst the latter species have much wider than deeper inter-arm areas. It is difficult to determine if Discoaster catillomicros has a proximal bulging and ridges because de Kaenel et al. (2017) provided no information about its proximal sides.

Varol, O. & Bowman, A. R. 2024. The New Middle Miocene Genus Olladiscoaster, and Related and Associated Discoasters. Grzybowski Foundation Special Publication, 28: 1-103 pp.