Cultures

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:

The NIES culture collection in Tsukuba, Japan
The NCMA collection at the Bigelow Lab, Maine, USA - formerly the CCMP
The Norwegian Culture Collection of Algae (NORCCA), at NIVA, Oslo, Norway. (also incorporating cultures from the former Scandinavian Culture Collection in Copenhagen).

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 July 2026. 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.

Image	Taxon	Citation	link to RCC page
Braarudosphaerales: Braarudosphaeraceae
	Braarudosphaera bigelowii	Braarudosphaera bigelowii (Gran & Braarud 1935) Deflandre 1947	RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Calcidiscaceae
	Calcidiscus leptoporus subsp. leptoporus	Calcidiscus leptoporus subsp. leptoporus (Murray & Blackman 1898) Loeblich & Tappan 1978	RCC strains information
	Calcidiscus leptoporus subsp. quadriperforatus	Calcidiscus leptoporus subsp. quadriperforatus (Kamptner 1937) Geisen, Billard, Broerse, Cros, Probert & Young, in Geisen et al. 2002	RCC strains information
	Calcidiscus thiersteinii	Calcidiscus thiersteinii Young 2023	RCC strains information
	Calcidiscus sp.	Calcidiscus sp.	RCC strains information
	Oolithotus antillarum	Oolithotus antillarum (Cohen 1964) Reinhardt, in Cohen & Reinhardt 1968	RCC strains information
	Oolithotus fragilis	Oolithotus fragilis (Lohmann 1912) Martini & Müller 1972	RCC strains information
	Umbilicosphaera anulus	Umbilicosphaera anulus (Lecal 1967) Young & Geisen, in Young et al. 2003	RCC strains information
	Umbilicosphaera foliosa	Umbilicosphaera foliosa (Kamptner 1963) Geisen, in Sáez et al. 2003	RCC strains information
	Umbilicosphaera hulburtiana	Umbilicosphaera hulburtiana Gaarder 1970	RCC strains information
	Umbilicosphaera sibogae	Umbilicosphaera sibogae (Weber-van Bosse 1901) Gaarder 1970	RCC strains information
	Umbilicosphaera sp.	Umbilicosphaera sp.	RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Coccolithaceae
	Coccolithus pelagicus subsp. braarudii	Coccolithus pelagicus subsp. braarudii (Gaarder 1962) Geisen et al. 2002	RCC strains information
	Coccolithus pelagicus subsp. pelagicus	Coccolithus pelagicus subsp. pelagicus (Wallich 1877) Schiller 1930	RCC strains information
	Cruciplacolithus neohelis	Cruciplacolithus neohelis (McIntyre & Bé 1967) Reinhardt 1972	RCC strains information
	Cruciplacolithus sp.	Cruciplacolithus sp.	RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Hymenomonadaceae
	Hymenomonas coronata	Hymenomonas coronata Mills 1975	RCC strains information
	Hymenomonas globosa	Hymenomonas globosa (Magne 1954) Gayral & Fresnel 1976	RCC strains information
	Hymenomonas lacuna	Hymenomonas lacuna Pienaar 1976	RCC strains information
	Hymenomonas roseola	Hymenomonas roseola Stein 1878	RCC strains information
	Jomonlithus littoralis	Jomonlithus littoralis Inouye & Chihara 1983	RCC strains information
	Ochrosphaera neapolitana	Ochrosphaera neapolitana Schussnig 1930	RCC strains information
	Ochrosphaera sp.	Ochrosphaera sp.	RCC strains information
Coccolithales: Pleurochrysidaceae
	Chrysotila carterae	Chrysotila carterae (Braarud & Fagerland 1946) Andersen et al. 2014	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila scherffelii	Chrysotila scherffelii (Pringsheim 1955) Andersen et al. 2014	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila stipitata	Chrysotila stipitata Anand 1936	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila dentata	Chrysotila dentata (Johansen & Doucette, in Johansen et al. 1988) Andersen et al. 2015	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila gayraliae	Chrysotila gayraliae (Beuffe 1978) Andersen et al. 2014	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila placolithoides	Chrysotila placolithoides (Fresnel & Billard 1991) Andersen et al. 2014	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila roscoffensis	Chrysotila roscoffensis (Dangeard 1934) Andersen et al. 2015	RCC strains information
	Chrysotila sp.	Chrysotila sp.	RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: bridged
	Corisphaera sp.	Corisphaera sp.	RCC strains information
	Helladosphaera sp.	Helladosphaera sp.	RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: convex
	Calyptrosphaera sp. strain RCC1181	Calyptrosphaera sp. strain RCC1181	RCC strains information
	Calyptrosphaera sphaeroidea HOL	Calyptrosphaera sphaeroidea Schiller 1913 HOL	RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: open-tube
	Calicasphaera sp.	Calicasphaera sp.	RCC strains information
Holococcoliths: Unidentified extant holococcolith
	Unidentified extant holococcolith	Unidentified extant holococcolith	RCC strains information
Isochrysidales: Isochrysidaceae
	Isochrysis galbana	Isochrysis galbana Parke 1949	RCC strains information
	Isochrysis litoralis	Isochrysis litoralis Billard & Gayral 1972	RCC strains information
	Isochrysis nuda	Isochrysis nuda Bendif & Probert, in Bendif et al. 2013	RCC strains information
	Ruttnera lamellosa	Ruttnera lamellosa (Anand 1936) Andersen, Kim, Tittley & Yoon, in Andersen et al. 2014	RCC strains information
	Tisochrysis lutea	Tisochrysis lutea Bendif & Probert, in Bendif et al. 2013	RCC strains information
	Tisochrysis sp.	Tisochrysis sp.	RCC strains information
Isochrysidales: Noelaerhabdaceae
	Emiliania huxleyi	Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann 1902) Hay & Mohler, in Hay et al. 1967	RCC strains information
	Gephyrocapsa ericsonii	Gephyrocapsa ericsonii McIntyre & Bé 1967	RCC strains information
	Gephyrocapsa muellerae	Gephyrocapsa muellerae Bréhéret 1978	RCC strains information
	Gephyrocapsa oceanica	Gephyrocapsa oceanica Kamptner 1943	RCC strains information
	Gephyrocapsa parvula	Gephyrocapsa parvula (Okada & McIntyre 1977) Bendif, Probert, Young & von Dassow, in Bendif et al. 2016	RCC strains information
	Reticulofenestra sessilis	Reticulofenestra sessilis (Lohmann 1912) Jordan & Young 1990	RCC strains information
Nannolith families inc sed: Ceratolithaceae
	Ceratolithus cristatus	Ceratolithus cristatus Kamptner 1950	RCC strains information
other groups: Haptophytes
	Pavlomulina ranunculiformis	Pavlomulina ranunculiformis Sym, Pienaar & Kawachi, in Kawachi et al. 2021	RCC strains information
	Diacronema ennorea	Diacronema ennorea (van der Veer & Leewis 1977) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Diacronema lutheri	Diacronema lutheri (Droop 1953) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Diacronema noctivaga	Diacronema noctivaga (Kalina 1970) van der Veer & Leewis 1977	RCC strains information
	Diacronema sp.	Diacronema sp.	RCC strains information
	Diacronema virescens	Diacronema virescens (Billard 1976) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Diacronema viridis	Diacronema viridis (Tseng et al. 1992) Bendif & Veron, in Bendif et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Diacronema vlkianum	Diacronema vlkianum Prauser 1958	RCC strains information
	Exanthemachrysis gayraliae	Exanthemachrysis gayraliae Lepailleur 1970	RCC strains information
	Exanthemachrysis sp.	Exanthemachrysis sp.	RCC strains information
	Pavlova granifera	Pavlova granifera (Mack 1954) Green 1973	RCC strains information
	Pavlova gyrans	Pavlova gyrans Butcher 1952	RCC strains information
	Pavlova pinguis	Pavlova pinguis Green 1967	RCC strains information
	Pavlova sp.	Pavlova sp.	RCC strains information
	Rebecca salina	Rebecca salina (Carter 1937) Green, in Edvardsen et al. 2000	RCC strains information
	Rebecca sp.	Rebecca sp.	RCC strains information
	Phaeocystis antarctica	Phaeocystis antarctica Karsten 1905	RCC strains information
	Phaeocystis cordata	Phaeocystis cordata Zingone & Chrétiennot-Dinet, in Zingone et al. 1999	RCC strains information
	Phaeocystis globosa	Phaeocystis globosa Scherffel 1899	RCC strains information
	Phaeocystis jahnii	Phaeocystis jahnii Zingone, in Zingone et al. 1999	RCC strains information
	Phaeocystis pouchetii	Phaeocystis pouchetii (Hariot, in Pouchet 1892) Lagerheim 1896	RCC strains information
	Phaeocystis sp.	Phaeocystis sp.	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina sp.	Chrysochromulina sp.	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina acantha	Chrysochromulina acantha Leadbeater & Manton 1971	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina camella	Chrysochromulina camella Leadbeater & Manton 1969	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina leadbeateri	Chrysochromulina leadbeateri Estep et al. 1984	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina rotalis	Chrysochromulina rotalis Eikrem & Throndsen 1999	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina simplex	Chrysochromulina simplex Estep et al. 1984	RCC strains information
	Chrysochromulina throndsenii	Chrysochromulina throndsenii Eikrem 1996	RCC strains information
	Chrysocampanula spinifera	Chrysocampanula spinifera Fournier 1971	RCC strains information
	Chrysoculter rhomboideus	Chrysoculter rhomboideus Nakayama, Yoshida, Noel, Kawachi & Inouye, in Nakayama et al. 2005	RCC strains information
	Dicrateria rotunda	Dicrateria rotunda (Reynolds 1974) Probert & Bendif, in Bendif et al. 2013	RCC strains information
	Dicrateria sp.	Dicrateria sp.	RCC strains information
	Haptolina ericina	Haptolina ericina (Parke & Manton, in Parke et al. 1956) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Haptolina fragaria	Haptolina fragaria (Eikrem & Edvardsen 1999) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Haptolina herdlensis	Haptolina herdlensis (Leadbeater 1972) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Haptolina hirta	Haptolina hirta (Manton 1978) Edvardsen & Eikrem, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Hyalolithus neolepis	Hyalolithus neolepis Yoshida et al. 2006	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium calathiferum	Prymnesium calathiferum Chang & Ryan 1985	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium kappa	Prymnesium kappa (Parke & Manton, in Parke et al. 1955) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium nemamethecum	Prymnesium nemamethecum Pienaar & Birkhead 1994	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium parvum	Prymnesium parvum Carter 1937	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium pienaarii	Prymnesium pienaarii (Gayral & Fresnel 1983) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium pigrum	Prymnesium pigrum (Geitler 1930) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium polylepis	Prymnesium polylepis (Manton & Parke 1962) Edvardsen Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium simplex	Prymnesium simplex (Gayral & Fresnel 1983) Edvardsen, Eikrem & Probert, in Edvardsen et al. 2011	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium sp.	Prymnesium sp.	RCC strains information
	Prymnesium zebrinum	Prymnesium zebrinum Billard 1983	RCC strains information
	Pseudohaptolina sorokinii	Pseudohaptolina sorokinii Orlova et al. 2016	RCC strains information
Syracosphaerales: Rhabdosphaeraceae
	Algirosphaera robusta	Algirosphaera robusta (Lohmann 1902) Norris 1984	RCC strains information
Syracosphaerales: Syracosphaeraceae
	Syracosphaera mediterranea	Syracosphaera mediterranea Lohmann 1902	RCC strains information
	Syracosphaera anthos	Syracosphaera anthos (Lohmann 1912) Janin 1987	RCC strains information
	Syracosphaera pulchra	Syracosphaera pulchra Lohmann 1902	RCC strains information
Zygodiscales: Helicosphaeraceae
	Helicosphaera carteri	Helicosphaera carteri (Wallich 1877) Kamptner 1954	RCC strains information
	Helicosphaera hyalina	Helicosphaera hyalina Gaarder 1970	RCC strains information
	Helicosphaera wallichii	Helicosphaera wallichii (Lohmann 1902) Okada & McIntyre 1977	RCC strains information
	Helicosphaera sp.	Helicosphaera sp.	RCC strains information
Zygodiscales: Pontosphaeraceae
	Pontosphaera syracusana	Pontosphaera syracusana Lohmann 1902	RCC strains information
	Scyphosphaera apsteinii	Scyphosphaera apsteinii Lohmann 1902	RCC strains information