Original descriptions of taxa. For coccolithophores, and many calcispheres, these are pages from the Farinacci & Howe Catalog of Calcareous Nannofossils. In other cases (e.g. non-calcifying haptophytes) the data is directly compiled on this site. The "Catalogue of Calcareous Nannofossils" was originally compiled by Prof A. Farinacci 1969-1989, since 2000 it has been updated and extended by Richard Howe - see The Farinacci and Howe Catalog - an Introduction.
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Citation: Chrysochromulina alifera Parke&Manton in Parke et al. 1956Taxonomic rank: speciesDescribed on page(s) : 406-413Type sample (& lithostrat): Type Culture (Plymouth no. 34) deposited with the Type Culture Collection, Cambridge; preserved material and photographs lodged with the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, England.Type locality: the sea at position (Plymouth Laboratory Station L4) Lat. N. 50° 15', Long. 0 W. 4 13' (4 May, 1950, type culture) at surface.Farinacci catalog page (& compiler): n/a Current citation: Chrysochromulina alifera Parke and Manton in Parke et al. 1956
Original Description Motile cells showing extreme metaboly, approximately saddle-shaped with large lateral curved wings when moving slowly or stationary; bell-shaped, oblong, ovoid or spheroidal when swimming rapidly; 6-10 (exceptionally 4-12) µm in length of back of saddle. Two flagella and one haptonema arising close together from ventral concave surface near to one margin in a centre line; flagella smooth, of equal length or subequal, gradually attenuated to a hair point (E. M. observation), usually heterodynamic, occasionally appearing homodynamic, 2-2½ times cell size in length; the haptonema thinner than the flagella, 10 to 12 (exceptionally 14) times body size in length when fully extended, with a swollen tip but no obvious translucent sheath visible under the electron microscope. The periplast, pectic in nature, showing a covering of very thin transparent circular to oval sculptured, dimorphic scales, visible only under the electron microscope; scales without spines 0.25 to 0.45 µ, sculpturing similar to those of C. ephippium; scales with spines 0.28 to 0.45 µ, the spine slightly less than scale diameter in length attached centrally by 2-4 short decurrent ridges not extending to the margin. Distribution of the two types of scales on body unknown.
Cells uninucleate, no stigma. Chromatophores striated, 2 or 4,occasionally one or none, intense golden brown; in cells of motile phase saucer-shaped to square or oblong, with single inconspicuous globular body (pyrenoid?) placed near the margin towards the non-flagellar end; in non-motile phase finely lobed. Oil and leucosin produced. Ejectile muciferous bodies small, localized in groups mainly towards the non-flagellar end of the cell. Nutrition phototrophic and/or phagotrophic. Not toxic to fish.
In motile phase asexual reproduction by fission into two daughter-cells of equal or unequal size; in non-motile phase by successive fission of amoeboid cells to produce 4 ovate daughter-cells with exceptionally thin walls; motile phase probably liberated from walled daughter-cells through a pore. Size: cells 6-10 (exceptionally 4-12) µm; scales without spines 0.25 to 0.45 µm; scales with spines 0.28 to 0.45 µm. Etymology: Lat. Ala—a wing +fero—I bear Extra details from original publication The details which distinguish this species from the preceding [C. ephippium] include body shape, the relatively shorter flagella and haptonema, some details of the swimming movements, the position of the pyrenoid, the greater average number of chromatophores and the smaller and slightly simpler scales.
The exceptional form-range is illustrated in Figs. 41-59. In general character this species is somewhat similar to C. ephippium, though the form range is greater, the body thinner (Fig. 65) and the wings larger and more curved (Figs. 46, 60, 61). It was impossible to get an exact measurement of the thickness of the body, but it is not more than 1.5-2.0 µm.
References:
Parke, M., Manton, I. & Clarke, B. (1956). Studies on marine flagellates. III. Three further species of Chrysochromulina. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 35: 387-414. gs
Chrysochromulina alifera: Catalog entry compiled by Jeremy Young. Viewed: 17-2-2025