Taxonomy:
Extant species (detailed on other pages)
Fossil species (combined here)
Distinguishing features: Gephyrocapsa <3µm long - not usually identifiable to species level by light microscopy
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: G. aperta * , B. duoalatus * , G. mediterranea * , G. pelta * , G. protohuxleyi * , G. kennettii [no catalog entry yet], G. rota * , G. sinuosa * , G. theyeri *
Search data:Tags | LITHS: placolith, elliptical, CA: ca_conjunct, grill, bar, CSPH: equant, monomorphic, CROSS-POLARS: rim-unicyclic, R-prominent, |
Metrics | Lith size: 1.5->3µm; |
Geological Range:
Notes: Small Gephyrocapsa is abundant in a short interval in the mid Pliocene but becomes much rarer in the Late Pliocene (NN16-18), they are common throughout the Pleistocene. Small Gephyrocapsa specimens are also present in the plankton but the identification is usually only used for fossil specimens.
The first occurrence of small Gephyrocapsa is hard to place as the earliest forms are often hard to definitively identify by light microscope. The earliest well-supported record is that of Triantaphyllou (2000) from the Messinian of Greece.
Last occurrence (top): within MIS-2 Isotope stage (0.02-0.05Ma, top in Tarantian stage). Data source:
First occurrence (base): within Messinian Stage (5.33-7.25Ma, base in Messinian stage). Data source: Triantaphyllou (2000)
Plot of occurrence data:
Chuang, C. -K., Wei, K. -Y., Mii, H. -S., Suk, H. -Y. & Lo, L. (2021). Gephyrocapsa kennettii sp. nov., a new calcareous nannofossil species from the Middle Pleistocene, Solomon Sea, western equatorial Pacific. Micropaleontology. 67(1): 1-10. gs Gartner, S. (1977). Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and revised zonation of the Pleistocene. Marine Micropaleontology. 2: 1-25. gs Hay, W. W. & Beaudry, F. M. (1973). Calcareous nannofossils - Leg 15. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. 15: 625-684. gs V O Heimdal, B. R. (1973). Two new taxa of Recent coccolithophorids. “Meteor” Forschungsergebnisse, Reihe D, Biologie. 70-75. gs Kamptner, E. (1963). Coccolithineen-Skelettreste aus Tiefseeablagerungen des Pazifischen Ozeans. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. 66: 139-204. gs V O Martini, E. (1981b). Oligocene to Recent calcareous nannoplankton from the Philippine Sea, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 59. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. 59: 547-565. gs V O Martini, E. (1993). Emiliania coronata, a new calcareous nannoplankton species from the North Atlantic Pleistocene. Zitteliana. 20: 87-92. gs Matsuoka, H. & Okada, H. (1989). Quantitative analysis of Quaternary nannoplankton in the subtropical Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Marine Micropaleontology. 14: 97-118. gs Matsuoka, H. & Okada, H. (1990). Time-progressive morphometric changes of the genus Gephyrocapsa in the Quaternary sequence of the tropical Indian Ocean, Site 709. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results. 115: 255-270. gs V O McIntyre, A. & Bé, A. W. H. (1967b). Modern Coccolithophoridae of the Atlantic Ocean - I. Placoliths and Cyrtholiths. Deep-Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts. 14: 561-597. gs McIntyre, A. (1970). Gephyrocapsa protohuxleyi sp. n. a possible phyletic link and index fossil for the Pleistocene. Deep-Sea Research. 17: 187-190. gs Pirini Radrizzani, C. & Valleri, G. (1977). New data on calcareous nannofossils from the Pliocene of the Tyrrhenian Basin Site 132, DSDP Leg 13. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia. 83(4): 897-924. gs Pujos, A. (1987a). Late Eocene to Pleistocene medium-sized and small-sized "Reticulofenestrids". Abhandlungen der Geologischen Bundesanstalt. 39: 239-277. gs V O Rio, D. (1982). The fossil distribution of coccolithophore genus Gephyrocapsa Kamptner and related Plio-Pleistocene chronostratigraphic problems. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. 68: 325-343. gs V O Samtleben, C. (1980). Die Evolution der Coccolithophoriden-Gattung Gephyrocapsa nach Befunden im Atlantik. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 54: 91-127. gs Triantaphyllou, M. (2000). Short note on the occurrence of small Gephyrocapsa species and birefringent ceratoliths in Messinian diatomites (Gavdos Island, Southern Greece). Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 22(1): 37-40. gs V O Young, J. R. (1998). Neogene. In, Bown, P. R. (ed.) Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy. British Micropalaeontological Society Publication Series. 225-265. gs V OReferences:
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Gephyrocapsa small compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 7-3-2021
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