Nannotax3 - ntax_cenozoic - Calciarcus alaskensis Nannotax3 - ntax_cenozoic - Calciarcus alaskensis

Calciarcus alaskensis


Classification: ntax_cenozoic -> Holococcoliths -> tubeless -> tubeless-minute -> Calciarcus -> Calciarcus alaskensis
Sister taxa: C. alaskensis, C. sp.

Sub-taxa & variants (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)
Calciarcus alaskensis morphotype 1
3–4 flexible struts, rising 0.2-0.4µm above base plate & ending in blunt spine
Calciarcus alaskensis morphotype 2
3 struts, rising ca. 0.15 µm above base plate & not ending in spine.
Calciarcus alaskensis morphotype 3
3–4 struts, rising 0.5-1.25 µm above base plate & ending in blunt spine.

Taxonomy:

Citation: Calciarcus alaskensis Manton, Sutherland & Oates 1977
taxonomic rank: Species
Variants: Thomsen & Ostergaard (2014) distinguish three morphotypes, within a broad Calicarcus aff. alaskensis species concept. 
  1. The South Alaskan type material and material from West Greenland (Figs 3, 4, 6) characterized by 3–4 flexible struts, a blunt terminating spine and a small elevation above the base plate (0,2–0,4 μm),
  2. Material from West Greenland (Thomsen 1981 and Figs 5, 8) characterized by 3 struts, no terminating spine and a low elevation above the base plate (0,15 μm). [illustrated by Thomsen et al. 1991 forming combination coccospheres with Wigwamma cf. annulifera]
  3. Material from West Greenland (Figs 7, 9),  NEW [NE Greenland] (Figs 10–14), AMERIEZ [Weddell Sea] (Thomsen et al. 1988 and Figs 18–20) EPOS [Weddell Sea] (Figs 15–17, 21–26) and NBP [Ross Sea] (Figs 27–28) characterized by 3–4 struts, a robust conical appearance of the coccolith and an elevation above the organic base plate typically around 1μm (0.5–1.25 μm). [illustrated by Thomsen et al. 2013 forming combination coccospheres with Wigwamma sp.] 
Taxonomic discussion: See Thomsen & Ostergaard (2014) for a recent review

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Calciarcus): Monomorphic. Rhombohedral crystallites forming 3 or 4 radial converging struts attached to a scale with calcareous rim
This taxon: Scales ca. 0.5 µm across, with 3 or 4 calcified struts forming a wigwam-like structure

Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: C. alaskensis *


Biology & life-cycles

A combination coccosphere of Calciarcus cf. alaskensis with Wigwamma cf. annulifera was illustrated by Thomsen et al. 1991 and several combination coccospheres of Wigwamma sp. with Calciarcus sp. were shown by Thomsen et al. 2013. All the Calciarcus specimens in these combination coccospheres would fall in the broad Calciarcus aff. alaskensis concept.

Search data:
LITHS: holococcolith, circular, CA: diagonal cross,
CSPH: equant, monomorphic,
Lith size: 0.5->0.7µm; Coccosphere size: 5->7µm;
Data source notes: lith and csph size from illustrated specimens
The morphological data given here can be used on the advanced search page. See also these notes

Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source: present in the plankton
First occurrence (base): within No known fossil record modern (0.00-0.00Ma, base in "Holocene" stage). Data source: [JRY rough estimate]

Plot of occurrence data:

References:

Manton, I., Sutherland, J. & Oates, K. (1977). Arctic coccolithophorids: Wigwamma arctica gen. et sp. nov. from Greenland and Arctic Canada; W. annulifera sp. nov. from South Africa and S. Alaska and Calciarcus alaskensis gen. et sp. nov. from S. Alaska. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. 197(1127): 145-168. gs

Thomsen, H. A. & Ostergaard, J. B. (2014). Coccolithophorids in polar waters: Calciarcus spp. revisited. Acta Protozoologica. 53(145-157): -. gs

Thomsen, H. A. (1981). Identification by electron microscopy of nanoplanktonic coccolithophorids (Prymnesiophyceae) from West Greenland, including the description of Papposphaera sarion sp. nov. British Phycological Journal. 16: 77-94. gs

Thomsen, H. A., Buck, K. R., Coale, S. L., Garrison, D. L. & Gowing, M. M. (1988). Nanoplanktonic coccolithophorids (Prymnesiophyceae, Haptophyceae) from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Nordic Journal of Botany. 8: 419-436. gs

Thomsen, H. A., Ostergaard, J. B. & Hansen, L. E. (1991). Heteromorphic life histories in Arctic coccolithophorids (Prymnesiophyceae). Journal of Phycology. 27: 634-642. gs

Thomsen, H. A., Ostergaard, J. B. & Heldal, M. (2013). Coccolithophorids in polar waters: Wigwamma spp. revisited. Acta Protozoologica. 52: 237-256. gs O


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Calciarcus alaskensis compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 15-12-2024

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