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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Current identification/main database link: Pavlova gyrans Butcher 1952; emend. Green and Manton 1970
Compiled data
Original Description
Propagation is by longitudinal division in the non-motile stage.
Size:
Extra details from original publication
The metabolism of the individuals is so marked and the shape so varied that the form of the cells is anything 'from cylindrical compressed to almost spherical and amoeboid. Only the most frequently observed shapes are illustrated (Pl. II, Figs. 35-38).
Of the two flagella the one directed forward has a somewhat slow undulatory motion and can be seen without difficulty. It is about twice as long as the cell. The smaller flagellum is directed outwards and has a rapid up and down movement; in length it about equals the width of the cell and is very much more difficult to detect than the longer flagellum. The movements of the organism are very varied. Sometimes it twists and turns on its own axis, or goes forward with a vibratory motion, while at other times it moves rapidly in one direction. Or it may execute a combination of any of these movements.
A palmelloid state has been occasionally observed in cultures. The outline of the cells is then very irregular, but stigma and leucosin are very conspicuous.
The cells are very sensitive to all fixatives, in which they either become or burst. In excess light on the microscope slide the cells behave as follows. Motion ceases and the elongate cells become oval or spherical, the long flagellum floats away and part of the hyaline contents of the cell is extruded through the periplast to form elongate or club-shaped' pseudopodia'. Some individuals do not immediately lose their power of motion but continue to move with pseudopodia protruding. Apparently this form of the organism may best be considered a pathological condition.
Butcher, R. W. (1952). Contributions to our knowledge of the smaller marine algae. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 31: 175-191. gsReferences:
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Pavlova gyrans: Catalog entry compiled by Jeremy Young. Viewed: 17-2-2025
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