Gephyrocapsa
Classification: ntax_cenozoic -> Isochrysidales -> Noelaerhabdaceae -> Gephyrocapsa
Sister taxa: Emiliania, Gephyrocapsa, Pseudoemiliania, Reticulofenestra, Noelaerhabdus, Bekelithella, Pyrocyclus
Taxonomy:
Citation: Gephyrocapsa Kamptner, 1943Rank: GenusType species: Gephyrocapsa oceanica Kamptner 1943 Taxonomic discussion: Species included: Gephyrocapsa taxonomy is notoriously confused but the following taxa are a useful starting set
Distinguishing features: Bridge across the central area
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: Gephyrocapsa *
Morphology: Coccoliths with structure similar to those of Emiliania and Reticulofenestra (see Young 1989 for discussion), but with a conjunct bridge, formed from inner tube-elements spanning central area; shields usually solid, i.e. without slits between the elements.
Biology & life-cycles: Diploid phase non-motile producing heterococcoliths. Haploid phase motile, non-calcifying.
Phylogenetic relations: Gephyrocapsa and Reticulofenestra coccoliths only differ in the presence/absence of a bridge and at the time of origin of Gephyrocapsa the only other member of the Noelaerhabdaceae was Reticulofenestra. So, evoution from Reticulofenestra is very likely.
Most likely ancestor: Reticulofenestra - at confidence level 3 (out of 5). Data source: Perch-Nielsen (1985), and others. .
Likely descendants: Emiliania;
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->7µm; Coccosphere size: 3->10µm; |
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: Total of range of species in this database
First occurrence (base): at base of Messinian Stage (0% up, 7.3Ma, in Messinian stage). Data source: Total of range of species in this database
Plot of occurrence data:
- Range-bar - range as quoted above, pink interval top occurs in, green interval base occurs in.
- Triangles indicate an event for which a precise placement has been suggested
- Neptune data: This is a higher taxon page so Neptune data is not plotted. See also: customisable plot Parent: Noelaerhabdaceae
References:
Bollmann, J. (1997). Morphology and biogeography of Gephyrocapsa coccoliths in Holocene sediments. Marine Micropaleontology. 29: 319-350. gs
Kamptner, E. (1943). Zur Revision der Coccolithineen-Spezies Pontosphaera huxleyi Lohm. Anzeiger der (Kaiserlichen) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematische-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, Wien. 80: 73-49. gs
Perch-Nielsen, K. (1985a). Cenozoic calcareous nannofossils. In, Bolli, H. M., Saunders, J. B. & Perch-Nielsen, K. (eds) Plankton Stratigraphy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 427-555. gs
Samtleben, C. (1980). Die Evolution der Coccolithophoriden-Gattung Gephyrocapsa nach Befunden im Atlantik. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 54: 91-127. gs
Young, J. R. (1989). Observations on heterococcolith rim structure and its relationship to developmental processes. In, Crux, J. A. & van Heck, S. E. (eds) Nannofossils and their applications: Proceedings of the 2nd INA Conference, London 1987. British Micropalaeontological Society Publication Series. 1-20. gs V O
Young, J. R., Geisen, M., Cros, L., Kleijne, A., Probert, I. & Ostergaard, J. B. (2003). A guide to extant coccolithophore taxonomy. Journal of Nannoplankton Research, Special Issue. 1: 1-132. gs V O
