NAME Anatolinites spinatus
AGE Late Paleocene - Early to Middle Eocene.   AGE span: 58.7...40.4 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Fungi Imperfecti, Phragmosporae.
FIGURE(S)
Image of
Pl.35fig.12.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Parsons MG, Norris G. 1999. Paleogene fungi from the Caribou Hills, Mackenzie Delta, northern Canada; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 250, p. 77-167.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY A. spinatus Parsons & Norris 1999, p. 124, pl. 5, fig. 15.
LOCATION Caribou Hills, Mackenzie Delta, northern Canada.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Obovate fungal spores with four to five cells that decrease in size towards the proximal end. The length of the distal cell is generally half or more of the total spore length. Proximal end rounded, terminating in a pore up to 0.5 µm in diameter. Distal end pointed, drawn out into a sharply rounded point, a short spine, or a prominent spine.

The distal tip is often thickened (and, according to Norris 1997, p. 34, who illustrated similar specimens, can bear a minute distal pore, 0.25 µm or less in diameter, surrounded by an annulus). Spore wall levigate or scabrate, 0.25-0.5 µm thick, increasing to 1 µm in thickness around the distal pore. The distal spine can be barely perceptible to quite long, and can vary in length within a spore cluster. These spores are commonly found in clusters, with up to eight spores in a cluster. A distal pore, recorded by Norris (l.c.) in material from the Adgo F-28 well as being difficult to observe, was not observed in specimens from the Caribou Hills, probably because of the thickening around the spine. The Adgo F-28 specimens here are assigned to Anatolinites spinatus. Norris (ibid.) also recorded a small proximal pore as being present for this species. The Caribou Hills specimens commonly have one or two cells missing at the proximal end; when the proximal cells are present, an irregular opening, possibly a pore, has been observed.

Dimensions, based on fourteen specimens: length 35-72 µm, width 18-27 µm.
COMMENTS* Anatolinites spinatus is distinguished from other species of Anatolinites by its pronounced distal taper or spine.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Parsons MG, Norris G. 1999. Paleogene fungi from the Caribou Hills, Mackenzie Delta, northern Canada; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 250, p. 77-167.
K&J REMARKS The large tapering distal cell is unusual among forms assigned to Anatolinites. However, Elsik et al. (1990) did illustrate a number of specimens, assigned to A. dongyingensis, that show a definite thickening of the spore wall at the distal pole, often resulting in a flat cone.

Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) would have assigned this species to Pluricellaesporites, on the basis of the tapered distal cell, as well as the rather thin spore wall and septa. Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) also examined the specimens illustrated by Norris (1997) as Anatolinites sp., but could not verify the presence of a distal pore. This spore may eventually be distinguished as belonging to a new genus; for now, Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) do not transfer it to another genus.
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Anatolinites spinatus
SERIAL NUMBER 29
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.