Guide to Puncticulata
Credit: Will Daniels
- Central area flat or concentrically undulate
- Valve face divided into two parts, each with distinct morphology
THE GENUS PUNCTICULATA, ALTHOUGH VALIDLY PUBLISHED, IS NOT LEGITIMATE. TAXA HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO LINDAVIA. THIS PAGE WILL SOON BE CLOSED.
The valve face is circular or oval. The central area is variable: with both areolae and fultoportulae, or areolae only, or fultoportulae only. Central area fultoportulae, when present, possess three satellite pores. One or more rimoportulae are present on the valve face, at end of a shortened stria, or shortened striae.
Puncticulata is a relatively new genus (Håkansson 2002) erected to recognize the bodanica-comta-radiosa-antiqua-austriaca group. Although the group circumscribed by Puncticulata deserves recognition, the genus is not legitimate as published (ICBN, Art. 52.1). Håkansson included the species Handmannia austriaca Peragallo in Handmann as a member of Puncticulata. Handmannia austriaca, however, is the type of the genus Handmannia Peragallo in Handmann 1913. As such, there is an earlier and available name for Puncticulata, i.e. Handmannia, and all names published under Puncticulata are currently not legitimate.