Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Ophiaster macrospinus Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Ophiaster macrospinus

Ophiaster macrospinus


Classification: ntax_main -> Syracosphaerales -> Syracosphaeraceae -> Ophiaster -> Ophiaster macrospinus
Sister taxa: O. macrospinus, O. formosus, O. hydroideus, O. reductus, O. minimus, O. formosus var. inversus, O. sp.

Taxonomy:

Citation: Ophiaster macrospinus Keuter et al. 2021
Taxonomic rank: species

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:

An Ophiaster species with a spherical coccosphere with weakly calcified elliptical body coccoliths. The circum-flagellar coccoliths display a distinct robust spine (ca. 2μm) at the center. The radial, antapical appendages are composed of strings of coccoliths (> 1.2 μm width). These are osteoliths of rounded rectangle shape.
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

Specimens of O. macrospinus were detected in the GoA during the oligotrophic stratified period from August to November at relatively low concentrations (max 0.72 cells mL−1) at sub-euphotic depths mostly ≥ 100 m. In contrast, cells from Ophiaster formosus were detected around the deep chlorophyll maximum [Keuter et al. 2021]

Biology & life-cycles

 

Search data:
Lith size: 1->1.3µm; Coccosphere size: 4->7µm;
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:
First occurrence (base): within No known fossil record modern (0.00-0.00Ma, base in "Holocene" stage). Data source:

Plot of occurrence data:

References:

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 O


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Ophiaster macrospinus compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 22-5-2025

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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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