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 discophora Manton 1983Taxonomic rank: speciesType locality: collected by Dr. Margaret McCully in sample Farinacci catalog page (& compiler): n/a Current citation: Chrysochromulina discophora Manton 1983
Original Description Protoplast approximately spherical, c.10 μm diam., with two plastids; the two flagella up to 25 µm long with a still longer haptonema. Periplast with two kinds of plate-scales covering the whole surface and with an additional tuft of long, pointed, spines (1 to several) projecting at each pole. Outer plate-scales flat, approximately circular in outline, c.2.5 µm diam., with a narrow raised rim (thickened margin) and patterning on the proximal face with radiating ridges arranged in quadrants around an irregul r central area; the distal face covered with bundles of threads diverging from point sources at the plate edge and thence traversing the whole surface in several directions without marking the centre. Underlayer scales small, elliptical, commonly 0.9 x 0.7 µm, each with a broad flat patternless band c. 0.2 µm wide closely pressed peripherally to the distal face; patterning on both faces radiating ridges arranged in quadrants. but additional Spiral threads more distinct on the distal face. Spines up to 20 µm long, tapered to a point and ridged but not or scarcely twisted, each supported by four basal struts adnate to a strongly convex baseplate smaller in diameter than the outer plate-scales but similarly patterned on the proximal surface and very flexible.
References:
Manton, I. (1983). Nanoplankton from the Galapagos Islands: Chrysochromulina discophora sp. nov. (Haptophyceae = Prymnesiophyceae) another species with exceptionally large scales. Botanica Marina. 26: 15-22. gs
Chrysochromulina discophora: Catalog entry compiled by Jeremy Young. Viewed: 17-2-2025