Multivariate discrimination of Buryella species from the Lower Eocene of the Outer Flysch Carpathians, Poland

Abstract. Variegated shales in the Lower Eocene hemipelagic deposits of the Subsilesian Series, Polish part of the Western Carpathians, have yielded rich radiolarians with common representatives of the genus Buryella. Two new radiolarian species, Buryella spina sp. nov. and Buryella hannae sp. nov., are described, and two other species have been recognized: Buryella tetradica Foreman and Buryella clinata Foreman. Specimens have been measured, grouped and interpreted using cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical variates analysis (CVA). Species attributed to Buryella have three or four segments, a fusiform or lobate outline, and a constricted, rather than flared, aperture. The cephalis always possesses an apical horn of varying length with a distinct vertical pore at the collar stricture. All specimens possess a pronounced vertical tube, rounded or elongate, that might extend to the base of apical horn. Near the base of the cephalis the parallel ridges observed on the external wall of the cephalis are ridges from the horn that diverge and extend to the collar stricture except ventrally, where two ridges rejoin to enclose the vertical pore and form an upwardly directed tube. These structure might be evidence of the presence of arches (A-Vbl, A-Vbr) and bars (Vbl, Vbr), which form the vertical tube.