Nannotax3 - ntax_cenozoic - Michaelsarsia elegans

Citation: Michaelsarsia elegans Gran, 1912

Synonyms:

Halopappus vahseli Lohmann 1912, this was the type species of Halopappus [ID as M. elegans is my interpretation, but probably not new - JRY 2015]
Michaelsarsia asymmetrica Lohmann (1912) [based on specimen with most link coccoliths missing]
Michaelsarsia falklandica Lohmann (1912)
Michaelsarsia splendens Lohmann (1912)
Syracosphaera corii Schiller (1925)- body coccoliths only but size and shape of coccosphere and arrangement of coccoliths strongly suggest this is Michaelsarsia [my identification, JRY 2015]

NB It is not really possible to tell with any of these early descriptions if the taxon illustrated is M. elegans or M. adriaticus as currently understood but there is no reason to change the established nomenclature.

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Michaelsarsia): Coccosphere with apical appendages formed from string of three highly-modified coccoliths, supported by whorl coccoliths
This taxon: BCs elliptical; whorl and link coccoliths with wide opening

BCs - long elliptical; rim broad; axial structure is prominent mound, about 1/3 width of coccolith.
CFCs - spine solid or with narrow central canal.
Whorl coccoliths - with wide opening.
Link coccoliths - broad, sides well separated.

Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source: present in the plankton (Young et al. 2003)
First occurrence (base): within Quaternary Period (0.00-2.59Ma, base in Gelasian stage). Data source: [JRY rough estimate]

References:

Cros, L. & Fortuño, J. -M. (2002). Atlas of northwestern Mediterranean coccolithophores. Scientia Marina. 66: 1-186. gs V O

Gran, H. H. (1912). Pelagic plant life. In, Murray, J. & Hjort, J. (eds) The Depths of the Ocean. Macmillan, London 307-386. gs

Heimdal, B. R. & Gaarder, K. R. (1981). Coccolithophorids from the northern part of the eastern central Atlantic II. Heterococcolithophorids. “Meteor” Forschungsergebnisse. 33: 37-69. gs

Lohmann, H. (1912). Untersuchungen über das Pflanzen- und Tierleben der Hochsee, zugleich ein Bericht über die biologischen Arbeiten auf der Fahrt der "Deutschland" von Bremerhaven nach Buenos-Aires in der Zeit vom 7. Mai bis 7. September 1911. Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Meereskunde an der Universität Berlin, Neue Folge. A. Geographisch-naturwissenschaftliche Reihe. 1: 1-92. gs V O

Reid, F. M. H. (1980). Coccolithophorids of the North Pacific Central Gyre with notes on their vertical and seasonal distribution. Micropaleontology. 26(2): 151-176. gs

Winter, A., Reiss, Z. & Luz, B. (1979). Distribution of living coccolithophore assemblages in the Gulf of Elat ('Aqaba). Marine Micropaleontology. 4: 197-223. gs

Yang, T. -N., Wei, K. & Wu, J. -T. (2012). Marine coccolithophores around Taiwan. Biodiversity Research Center, Academica Sinica, Taipei. 1-96. gs

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. S1: 1-132. gs V O

Michaelsarsia elegans

References:

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