Taxonomy:
Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Ophiaster): Appendages formed from strings of highly modified antapical coccoliths, without whorl coccoliths
This taxon: Like O. formosus but CFCs with broader process and link coccoliths wide, sub-rectangular, with only a single small spike.
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: Ophiaster macrospinus
Morphology:
CFCs: like those of O. formosus but with fatter, more robust spines
BCs: smilar to O. formosus, ca 1.1-1.3 µm long
Link coccoliths: very wide (1.6 ± 0.1 μm), nearly rectangular with rounded edges, without a real spine.
Ecology & Biogeography
Biology & life-cycles
Lith size: 1->1.3µm; Coccosphere size: 4->7µm; |
Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source:
First occurrence (base): within No known fossil record modern (0.00-0.00Ma, base in "Holocene" stage). Data source:
Plot of occurrence data:
Cros, L. & Fortuño, J. -M. (2002). Atlas of northwestern Mediterranean coccolithophores. Scientia Marina. 66: 1-186. gs Keuter, S., Young, J. R., Koplovitz, G., Zingone, A. & Frada, M. J. (2021). Novel heterococcolithophores, holococcolithophores and life cycle combinations from the families Syracosphaeraceae and Papposphaeraceae and the genus Florisphaera. Journal of Micropalaeontology. 40: 75-99. gs OReferences:
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Ophiaster macrospinus compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 22-5-2025
Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=1691 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes |
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