NAME Brachysporisporites antarcticus
AGE Late Cretaceous.   AGE span: 99.6...65.5 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Fungi Imperfecti, Phragmosporae.
FIGURE(S)
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Pl.9fig.15.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Song Z, Cao L. 1994. Late Cretaceous fungal spores from King George Island, Antarctica; Stratigraphy and Palaeontology of Fides Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, Monograph 3, p. 47-49.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY B. antarcticus Song Zhichen & Cao Liu 1994, p. 40, pl. 1, fig. 20.
LOCATION King George Island, Antarctica.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Spores pyriform with enlarged distal cells tapering toward the basal end; size of spores in 10 specimens 35-45 µm in length, largest width 19 µm; spores 4- to 5-celled, distal cell large and more than hemispherical, middle cell trapezium-shaped, basal cell small and short, adjoining cell probably curved, proximal end flat, probably hilate, contact area between cells without distinct constriction, two to three [from photos: 3-5] septa, without septal folds; spore wall thick, about 1 µm in thickness, surface smooth; spores dark brown.
COMMENTS* This new species can be distinguished from Brachysporisporites opimus (Elsik & Jansonius) Norris (1986, p.24, pl. 2, figs. 50, 51) by its longer size and narrower shape, whereas the holotype of the latter species is nearly spheroid, 34 x 22 µm in size, and its two distal cells are wide and large.

Etymology: from provenance of the type specimens.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Song Z, Cao L. 1994. Late Cretaceous fungal spores from King George Island, Antarctica; Stratigraphy and Palaeontology of Fides Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, Monograph 3, p. 47-49.
K&J REMARKS Some curvature in the proximal most cell suggests that this species might belong to Paragranatisporites.
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Brachysporisporites antarcticus
SERIAL NUMBER 113
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.