Culture strains of Coccolithophores and other Haptophytes

Cultures are a prime resource for research on coccolithophores and other haptophytes. This page provides a list of haptophyte cultures in the Roscoff Culture Collection (RCC). The RCC collections are listed since they are the largest and most comprehensive coccolithophore culture collection, and because metadata includes links to GENBANK sequence data. The very extensive haptophyte holdings of the Roscoff collection reflects the facts that they have been developed by Dr. Ian Probert, a specialist on coccolithophores, and that they incorporate the collections developed by the Caen research group (Jacqueline Fresnel and Chantal Billard) and during the CODENET project. The collection also include cultures isolated by other coccolithophore specialists, notably including Kyoko Hagino and Peter von Dassow.

Other culture collections with significant holdings of haptophytes include: At the time of writing (March 2020) none of these collections hold any coccolithophore species not also present in Roscoff but the Oslo collection, in particular, does have some additional Chrysochromulina species.

GENBANK: The prime repository for sequence data is GENBANK, since deposition of sequences is required for publication in most journals. Most taxonomically constrained sequence data for haptophytes comes from strains so there is a rather close correspondence in coverage between strains and sequences. The RCC pages include links to sequences derived from those strains. Alternatively the GENBANK taxonomy browser can be directly accessed.


Table of cultured species in the RCC

This table lists all taxa for which there are identified strains in the Roscoff Culture Collection. The listing is based on a search of the RCC database made in March 2020, updated November 2022. Some other species may be in culture but are not yet publically available, and listing of a species here is no guarantee either that it is still in culture or that it is freely available. The RCC database provides a listing of available strains for each species together with data on when and where they were collected and, when available, links to GENBANK sequences derived from them.
ImageTaxonCitationlink to RCC page
Coccolithales: Calcidiscaceae
imCalcidiscus leptoporus subsp. leptoporusCalcidiscus leptoporus subsp. leptoporus (Murray & Blackman 1898) Loeblich & Tappan, 1978RCC strains information
imCalcidiscus leptoporus subsp. quadriperforatusCalcidiscus leptoporus subsp. quadriperforatus (Kamptner 1937) Geisen et al., 2002RCC strains information
imCalcidiscus sp.Calcidiscus sp. RCC strains information
imOolithotus fragilisOolithotus fragilis (Lohmann 1912) Martini & Müller, 1972RCC strains information
imUmbilicosphaera foliosaUmbilicosphaera foliosa (Kamptner 1963) Geisen in Sáez et al., 2003RCC strains information
imUmbilicosphaera hulburtianaUmbilicosphaera hulburtiana Gaarder, 1970RCC strains information
imUmbilicosphaera sibogaeUmbilicosphaera sibogae (Weber - van Bosse 1901) Gaarder, 1970RCC strains information
imUmbilicosphaera sp.Umbilicosphaera sp. RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Coccolithaceae
imCoccolithus pelagicusCoccolithus pelagicus (Wallich 1877) Schiller, 1930RCC strains information
imCoccolithus pelagicus subsp. braarudiiCoccolithus pelagicus subsp. braarudii (Gaarder 1962) Geisen et al., 2002RCC strains information
imCoccolithus pelagicus subsp. pelagicusCoccolithus pelagicus subsp. pelagicus (Wallich 1877) Schiller, 1930RCC strains information
imCruciplacolithus neohelisCruciplacolithus neohelis (McIntyre & Bé 1967) Reinhardt, 1972RCC strains information
imCruciplacolithus sp.Cruciplacolithus sp. RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Hymenomonadaceae
imHymenomonas coronataHymenomonas coronata Mills, 1975RCC strains information
imHymenomonas globosaHymenomonas globosa (Magne 1954) Gayral & Fresnel, 1976RCC strains information
imHymenomonas lacunaHymenomonas lacuna Pienaar, 1976RCC strains information
imHymenomonas roseolaHymenomonas roseola Stein, 1878RCC strains information
imJomonlithus littoralisJomonlithus littoralis Inouye & Chihara, 1983RCC strains information
imOchrosphaera neapolitanaOchrosphaera neapolitana Schussnig, 1930RCC strains information
imOchrosphaera sp.Ochrosphaera sp. RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Pleurochrysidaceae
imChrysotila carteraeChrysotila carterae (Braarud & Fagerland 1946) Andersen et al. 2014RCC strains information
imChrysotila dentataChrysotila dentata (Johansen & Doucette in Johansen et al., 1988) Andersen et al. 2015RCC strains information
imChrysotila gayraliaeChrysotila gayraliae (Beuffe 1978) Andersen et al., 2014RCC strains information
imChrysotila placolithoidesChrysotila placolithoides (Fresnel & Billard, 1991) Andersen et al. 2014RCC strains information
imChrysotila roscoffensisChrysotila roscoffensis (Dangeard 1934) Andersen et al. 2015RCC strains information
imChrysotila scherffeliiChrysotila scherffelii (Pringsheim 1955) Andersen et al. 2014RCC strains information
imChrysotila sp.Pleurochrysis sp. RCC strains information
imChrysotila stipitataChrysotila stipitata Anand 1937RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: bridged
imCorisphaera sp.Corisphaera sp. RCC strains information
imHelladosphaera sp.Helladosphaera sp. RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: convex
imCalyptrosphaera sphaeroidea HOLCalyptrosphaera sphaeroidea Schiller, 1913 HOLRCC strains information
Holococcoliths: open-tube
imCalicasphaera sp.Calicasphaera sp. RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: Unidentified extant holococcolith
imUnidentified extant holococcolithRCC strains information
Isochrysidales: Isochrysidaceae
imDicrateria rotundaDicrateria rotunda (Reynolds 1974) Bendif & Probert, in Bendif et al. 2013RCC strains information
imIsochrysis galbanaIsochrysis galbana Parke 1949RCC strains information
imIsochrysis litoralisIsochrysis litoralis Billard & Gayral 1972RCC strains information
imIsochrysis nudaIsochrysis nuda Bendif & Probert, in Bendif et al. 2013RCC strains information
imRuttnera lamellosaRuttnera lamellosa (Anand 1937) Andersen et al. 2012RCC strains information
imTisochrysis luteaTisochrysis lutea Bendif & Probert, in Bendif et al. 2013RCC strains information
imTisochrysis sp.Tisochrysis sp.RCC strains information
Isochrysidales: Noelaerhabdaceae
imEmiliania huxleyiEmiliania huxleyi (Lohmann 1902) Hay & Mohler, in Hay et al. 1967RCC strains information
imGephyrocapsa ericsoniiGephyrocapsa ericsonii (McIntyre & Bé, 1967) RCC strains information
imGephyrocapsa muelleraeGephyrocapsa muellerae Bréhéret, 1978RCC strains information
imGephyrocapsa oceanicaGephyrocapsa oceanica Kamptner, 1943RCC strains information
imGephyrocapsa parvulaGephyrocapsa parvula (Okada & McIntyre 1977) Bendif, Probert, Young & von Dassow in Bendif et al. 2016RCC strains information
imReticulofenestra sessilisReticulofenestra sessilis (Lohmann 1912) Jordan & Young, 1990RCC strains information
Nannolith families inc sed: Ceratolithaceae
imCeratolithus cristatusCeratolithus cristatus Kamptner, 1950RCC strains information
Syracosphaerales: Rhabdosphaeraceae
imAlgirosphaera robustaAlgirosphaera robusta (Lohmann 1902) Norris, 1984RCC strains information
Syracosphaerales: Syracosphaeraceae
imSyracosphaera mediterraneaSyracosphaera mediterranea Lohmann 1902RCC strains information
imSyracosphaera anthosSyracosphaera anthos (Lohmann 1912) Janin, 1987RCC strains information
imSyracosphaera pulchraSyracosphaera pulchra Lohmann, 1902RCC strains information
Zygodiscales: Helicosphaeraceae
imHelicosphaera carteriHelicosphaera carteri (Wallich 1877) Kamptner, 1954RCC strains information
imHelicosphaera hyalinaHelicosphaera hyalina Gaarder, 1970RCC strains information
imHelicosphaera wallichiiHelicosphaera wallichii (Lohmann 1902) Okada & McIntyre, 1977RCC strains information
Zygodiscales: Pontosphaeraceae
imScyphosphaera apsteiniiScyphosphaera apsteinii Lohmann, 1902RCC strains information
Pavlomulinales: Pavlomulina
imPavlomulina ranunculiformisPavlomulina ranunculiformis S. Sym, R. Pienaar & M. Kawachi, in Kawachi et al. 2021RCC strains information
Pavlovales: Pavlovaceae
imDiacronema ennoreaPavlova ennorea (van der Veer and Leewis 1977) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011RCC strains information
imDiacronema lutheriDiacronema lutheri (Droop 1953) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011RCC strains information
imDiacronema noctivagaPavlova noctivaga (Kalina 1970) van der Veer and Leewis 1977RCC strains information
imDiacronema sp.Diacronema sp.RCC strains information
imDiacronema virescensDiacronema virescens (Billard 1976) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011RCC strains information
imDiacronema viridisDiacronema viridis (Tseng et al. 1992) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011RCC strains information
imDiacronema vlkianumDiacronema vlkianum Prauser 1958, emend. Green and Hibberd 1977RCC strains information
imExanthemachrysis gayraliaeExanthemachrysis gayraliae Lepailleur 1970RCC strains information
imExanthemachrysis sp.Exanthemachrysis sp.RCC strains information
imPavlova graniferaPavlova granifera (Mack 1954) Green 1973RCC strains information
imPavlova gyransPavlova gyrans Butcher 1952; emend. Green and Manton 1970RCC strains information
imPavlova pinguisPavlova pinguis Green 1967; emend. Green 1980RCC strains information
imPavlova sp.Pavlova sp.RCC strains information
imRebecca salinaRebecca salina (Carter 1937) Green in Edvardsen et al. 2000RCC strains information
imRebecca sp.Rebecca sp.RCC strains information
Phaeocystales: Phaeocystaceae
imPhaeocystis antarcticaPhaeocystis antarctica Karsten 1905RCC strains information
imPhaeocystis cordataPhaeocystis cordata Zingone and Chrétiennot-Dinet in Zingone et al. 1999RCC strains information
imPhaeocystis globosaPhaeocystis globosa Scherffel 1899RCC strains information
imPhaeocystis jahniiPhaeocystis jahnii Zingone in Zingone et al. 1999RCC strains information
imPhaeocystis pouchetiiPhaeocystis pouchetii (Hariot in Pouchet 1892) Lagerheim 1896 RCC strains information
imPhaeocystis sp.Phaeocystis sp.RCC strains information
Prymnesiales: Chrysochromulinaceae
imChrysochromulina sp.Chrysochromulina sp.RCC strains information
imChrysochromulina acanthaChrysochromulina acantha Leadbeater and Manton 1971RCC strains information
imChrysochromulina camellaChrysochromulina camella Leadbeater and Manton 1969RCC strains information
imChrysochromulina leadbeateriChrysochromulina leadbeateri Estep et al. 1984RCC strains information
imChrysochromulina rotalisChrysochromulina rotalis Eikrem and Throndsen 1999RCC strains information
imChrysochromulina simplexChrysochromulina simplex Estep et al. 1984; emend. Birkhead and Pienaar 1995RCC strains information
imChrysochromulina throndseniiChrysochromulina throndsenii Eikrem 1996RCC strains information
Prymnesiales: Genera incertae sedis
imChrysocampanula spiniferaChrysocampanula spinifera Fournier 1971 RCC strains information
imChrysoculter rhomboideusChrysoculter rhomboideus Nakayama, Yoshida, Noël, Kawachi & Inouye 2005RCC strains information
Prymnesiales: Prymnesiaceae
imDicrateria rotundaDicrateria rotunda (Reynolds 1974) Probert & Bendif, in Bendif et al. 2013RCC strains information
imDicrateria sp.Imantonia sp.RCC strains information
imHaptolina ericinaHaptolina ericina (Parke and Manton in Parke et al. 1956) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imHaptolina fragariaHaptolina fragaria (Eikrem and Edvardsen 1999) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imHaptolina herdlensisHaptolina herdlensis (Leadbeater 1972) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imHaptolina hirtaHaptolina hirta (Manton 1978) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imHyalolithus neolepisHyalolithus neolepis Yoshida et al., 2006RCC strains information
imPrymnesium calathiferumPrymnesium calathiferum Chang and Ryan 1985RCC strains information
imPrymnesium kappaPrymnesium kappa (Parke and Manton in Parke et al. 1955) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imPrymnesium nemamethecumPrymnesium nemamethecum Pienaar and Birkhead 1994RCC strains information
imPrymnesium parvumPrymnesium parvum Carter 1937; emend. Green et al. 1982 RCC strains information
imPrymnesium pienaariiPrymnesium pienaarii (Gayral and Fresnel 1983) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imPrymnesium pigrumPrymnesium pigrum (Geitler 1930)RCC strains information
imPrymnesium polylepisPrymnesium polylepis (Manton and Parke 1962) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imPrymnesium simplexPrymnesium simplex (Gayral and Fresnel 1983) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al., 2011RCC strains information
imPrymnesium sp.Prymnesium sp.RCC strains information
imPrymnesium zebrinumPrymnesium zebrinum Billard 1983RCC strains information
imPseudohaptolina sorokiniiPseudohaptolina sorokinii Orlova et al. 2016RCC strains information