Discoaster stellimicros

Discoaster stellimicros Pospichal & Bergen in de Kaenel et al., 2017

2017 Discoaster stellimicros Pospichal & Bergen in De Kaenel et al., (pro parte), pp. 229-230, non Pl. 5 Fig.21 (paratype); Pl.5 Fig. 22-23 (holotype).

Emended description: Relatively small six-segmented species have a large central area decorated with prominent sutural ridges created by deep cavities on the distal side. On the proximal side, ridges construct a platform-like structure on the bulging central area. Careful focus is required to identify the proximal platform. The arms are bifurcated, and their lengths are much shorter than the diameter Diameter of the central area (less than half). The inner-arm areas are much wider than deeper.

Discoaster stellimicros differs from Discoaster sanmiguelensis in that it is small and has very short arms. Discoaster stellimicros is distinguished from Discoaster pugliesei by having much wider and deeper inter-arm areas (half moon shape), whereas the latter has round, almost eclosed inter-arm areas. The inter-arm area is shallow but much wider in Discoaster catillomicros. The presence of distinct sutural ridges and deep cavities differentiate Discoaster stellimicros from Discoaster micros.

De Kaenel, E., Bergen, J. A., Browning, E., Blair, S. A. & Boesiger, T.M. 2017. Uppermost Oligocene to Middle Miocene Discoaster and Catinaster taxonomy and stratigraphy in the circum North Atlantic Basin, Gulf of Mexico and ODP Leg 154. Journal of Nannoplankton Research, 37 (2-3): 215–244.