Original descriptions of taxa. For coccolithophores, and many calcispheres, these are pages from the Farinacci & Howe Catalog of Calcareous Nannofossils. In other cases (e.g. non-calcifying haptophytes) the data is directly compiled on this site. The "Catalogue of Calcareous Nannofossils" was originally compiled by Prof A. Farinacci 1969-1989, since 2000 it has been updated and extended by Richard Howe - see The Farinacci and Howe Catalog - an Introduction.
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Farinacci - Olladiscoaster zucchiae.pdf
Varol & Bowman 2024 pl01 09.jpg
Varol & Bowman 2024 pl01 10.jpg
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Current identification:
Compiled data
Citation: Olladiscoaster zucchiae Varol & Bowman 2024Taxonomic rank: speciesType specimens: Holotype: Plate 19, Figs. 1-24 (same specimen in mobile mount). Type age (chronostrat): Zone NN6, Middle Miocene. Standardised type level: 122_MIDDLE MIOCENEType locality: USGS-NASA Langley core Hampton, VA, USA. Type repository: Varol Research, LlandudnoRepository Country: Wales
Original Description Circular to hexagonal species of Olladiscoaster have segments without arms. On the distal side, the distinct sutural ridges are created by the deep cavities. The sutural ridges are raised towards the centre and capped by kite-shaped distal covers. The distinct proximal ridges with a hexagon-stellate knob at the centre decorate the bulged proximal side. In side view, Olladiscoaster zucchiae resembles a bouquet. Size: Dimensions of holotype: Maximum diameter: 6.46 µm, Maximum height: 5.43 µm; Diameter of the proximal knob: 4.04 µm, Height of the proximal knob: 1.33 µm (measurements from bright field micrograph). Etymology: In honour of the late Donata Zucchi, a nannofossil specialist from Italy. Extra details from original publication Remarks:Olladiscoaster zucchiae differs from Olladiscoaster cruzii, Olladiscoaster catinatus and Olladiscoaster asterilithos by having a kite shape distal cover, whereas the latter species have boomerang shape distal covers. Olladiscoaster zucchiae is distinguished from Olladiscoaster bordii by having a hexagon-stellate proximal knob, whilst the latter species have petaloid proximal knobs. Olladiscoaster zucchiae is differentiated from Olladiscoaster exagonikoasteri and Olladiscoaster perplexus by having sutural ridges bisecting the periphery at the middle, whilst later species have sutural ridges almost aligned with the vertices. Moreover, Olladiscoaster exagonikoasteri lacks a proximal knob.
Occurrence: This species is recorded from ODP Leg 154, Hole 926A Ceara Rise, Atlantic Ocean, IODP Leg 354, Hole 1451B, Ninetyeast Ridge, Bengal Fan, Indian Ocean, USGS-NASA Langley core 134.4 m, Hampton, VA, USA and various commercial oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
Stratigraphic range: Middle Miocene (Zones NN5-NN7). Editors' Notes The species was named for Donata Zucchi, a nannofossil palaeontologist. The name is consistently given in the text as zucciae but this is a correctable orthographic error (ICN Art 60.1, see example 7). So the correct name is O. zucchiae andthe spelling has been corrected here. [JRY 2025]
References:
Varol, O. & Bowman, A. R. (2024). The new Middle Miocene genus Olladiscoaster, and related and associated discoasters. Grzybowski Foundation Special Publication. 28: 1-102. gs
Olladiscoaster zucchiae: Catalog entry compiled by Jeremy Young. Viewed: 5-3-2026