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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Original Description Young cells non-motile, hemispherical (3 x 6 µm) forming cubic masses; older cells spherical (6 x 7 µm)surrounded by concentric pectic envelopes; two parietal yellow-green chromatophores present; one intraplastidial pyrenoid per chromatophore. Asexual reproduction by division of the non-motile cells and by production of elongated metabolic swarmers (3 x 4.5-5 µm) with two apical subequal (6 and 8 µm) homodynamic flagella; movement of the cells generally in a backward direction; a single chromatophore and a stigma. Cells covered with one layer of subcircular plate scales (0.16 x 0.14 µm) with a thickened margin and radiating ridges.
References:
Billard, C. & Gayral, P. (1972). Two new species of Isochrysis with remarks on the genus Ruttnera. British Phycological Journal. 7(289-297): -. gs
Isochrysis maritima: Catalog entry compiled by Jeremy Young. Viewed: 17-2-2025