Daughter taxa (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)![]() | ||||
| Palusphaera vandelii Long (>10 µm) delicate tapering spines without collar. Basal disk circular (ca 2µm), with broad rim on distal side. | ||||
| Palusphaera probertii Like P. vandelii but basal disks smaller (ca 1.5 µm long), elliptical, and with narrow rim. | ||||
| Palusphaera crosiae Form with robust spines and maximum spine thickness approximately 1/3 up spine. | ||||
| Palusphaera bownii Spines, trumpet-like, low, open and flaring distally | ||||
| Palusphaera sp. Specimens which cannot be assigned to established species | ||||
| Genus | coccolith types on coccosphere | curvature of rows of lamellar elements |
| Palusphaera (4 extant species) |
monomorphic (all coccoliths have spines) |
Dextrogyre in distal view Laevogyre in proximal view |
| Rhabdosphaera (2 extant species) |
dimorphic (some coccoliths lack spines) |
Laevogyre in distal view Dextrogyre in proximal view |
Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Rhabdosphaeraceae): BCs planoliths with radial lath cycle and highly-variable axial structures. Often polymorphic and/or varimorphic
This taxon: Coccoliths without radial lath cycle; coccospheres monomorphic, all spine-bearing
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages:
Palusphaera + *
| LITHS: planolith, circular, elliptical, CA: ca_disjunct, process, CSPH: equant, monomorphic, |
| Lith size: 8->12µm; |
Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source: Total of ranges of the species in this database
First occurrence (base): within No known fossil record modern (0.00-0.00Ma, base in "Holocene" stage). Data source: Total of ranges of species in this database
Plot of occurrence data:
Archontikis, O. A. & Young, J. R. (2021). A reappraisal of the taxonomy and biodiversity of the extant coccolithophore genus Palusphaera (Rhabdosphaeraceae, Prymnesiophyceae). Phycologia. 60: 589-602. gs Lecal, J. (1965). A propos des modalités d'élaboration des formations épineuses des Coccolithophoridés. Protistologica. 1: 63-70. gsReferences:

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Palusphaera compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 13-1-2026
Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=984 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes |
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