Daughter taxa (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)![]() | Granddaughter taxa | ||||
Balaniger Coccolith distal rim with separated elements Coccosphere dimorphic - spines only on some coccoliths, calyx of four rods | |||||
Formonsella Coccolith distal rim weakly serrated - elements imbricate rods; Coccosphere dimorphic - BCs with irregular tiles & calicate coccoliths with conical calices | |||||
![]() | Kataspinifera Coccoliths distal rim smooth; with axial cross and spine; Coccosphere dimorphic, some coccoliths with very long spines | ||||
Pappomonas Coccolith distal rim serrated - elements pentagonal; Coccosphere polymorphic, processes on only some coccoliths. Calices with 2-fold symmetry BCs without axial spine or node | P. borealis P. flabellifera P. garrisonii P. weddellensis P. sp. type 1 P. sp. type 3 P. sp. type 4 P. sp. type 5 P. sp. | ||||
Papposphaera Coccolith distal rim serrated - elements pentagonal; Coccosphere monomorphic, varimorphic, or dimorphic, calices with 4-fold (or, rarely, 3-fold) symmetry | P. lepida P. obpyramidalis P. simplicissima P. sagittifera P. sarion P. arctica P. iugifera P. heldalii P. bourrellii P. thomsenii P. sp. type 1 P. sp. type 2 P. sp. type 3 P. sp. type 4 P. sp. type 5 P. sp. type 6 P. sp. | ||||
Picarola Coccoliths distal rim smooth, with curved quadrate process; Coccospheres trimorphic | |||||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Pocillithus Coccoliths with tall, narrow, quadrate spines; high rim with smooth distal rim. | |
Pseudowigwamma Monomorphic - body coccoliths are simple hoop-like coccoliths. | |||||
Quaternariella Coccolith distal rim serrated - elements pentagonal; ?monomorphic, no process | |||||
Ventimolina Coccoliths hoop-shaped with axial cros; BCs with low windmill-like calyx; CFCs with large bladed process | |||||
Vexillarius Coccoliths narrow-rimmed muroliths; equatorial coccoliths with quadrate central process supported by transverse bar. Coccosphere dimorphic, equatorial coccoliths distinctive, BCs simple muroliths | |||||
Wigwamma Coccoliths hoop-shaped with rods rising from rim to form wigwam-like structure |
Taxonomy:
Additonal genera have since been described by Thomsen and co-workers - Formonsella, Porsilidia, and Ventimolina as well as the heterococcolith stage of Quaternariella.
NB Some online databases suggest that the Papposphaeraceae should be considered a junior synoym of the Deflandriaceae (= Prediscosphaeraceae). As discussed by Jordan & Young (1990), this is an outdated suggestion made by Norris (1983) based on superficial similarities between Papposphaera and the Cretaceous genus Prediscosphaera.
Distinguishing features: Narrow-rimmed muroliths, mostly with prominent central structures.
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: Papposphaeraceae [no catalog entry yet]
Morphology: As noted by Andruleit & Young (2010) five morphological features characterise this group
Ecology & Biogeography: These occur predominantly in the Arctic and Antarctic and in the deep photic zone at lower latitudes. Chloroplasts have not been observed in these taxa and they have well-developed haptonemata, so they are thought to be heterotrophic (Thomsen & Ostergaard 2015).
Biology & life-cycles: Several species of Papposphaera and Pappomonas are known to have holococcolith stages from obsevations of combination coccospheres (e.g Thomsen et al. 1991). No species have been cultured succesfully.
Phylogenetic relations: No molecular genetic data is available for this group. However, the fact that they form both typical holococcoliths and typical heterococcoliths in alternate life-cycle stages, strongly suggests they fall within the clade of holococcolith producing coccolithophores (Young et al. 2005, Andruleit & Young 2010).
See also: Papposphaera HOL ;Trigonaspis ;Quaternariella HOL ;Balaniger HOL ;
Search data:Tags | LITHS: |
Metrics | Lith size: 0.5->2µm; |
Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant Data source: Total of range of species in this database
First occurrence (base): at base of Thanetian Stage (0% up, 59.2Ma, in Thanetian stage). Data source: Total of range of species in this database
Plot of occurrence data:
Andruleit, H. & Young, J. R. (2010). Kataspinifera baumannii: a new genus and species of deep photic coccolithophores resembling the non-calcifying haptophyte Chrysochromulina. Journal of Micropalaeontology. 29: 135-147. gs V O Dunkley Jones, T., Bown, P. R. & Pearson, P. (2009). Exceptionally well preserved upper Eocene to lower Oligocene calcareous nannofossils (Prymnesiophycidae) from the Pande Formation (Kilwa Group), Tanzania. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 7(4): 359-411. gs Jordan, R. W. & Young, J. R. (1990). Proposed changes to the classification system of living Coccolithophorids. INA Newsletter. 12(1): 15-18. gs V O Norris, R. E. (1983). The family position of Papposphaera Tangen and Pappomonas Manton & Oates (Prymnesiophyceae) with records from the Indian Ocean. Phycologia. 22(2): 161-169. gs Thomsen, H. A. & Ostergaard, J. B. (2015b). Coccolithophorids in Polar Waters: Trigonaspis spp. revisited. Acta Protozoologica. 54: 85-96. gs V O Thomsen, H. A., Ostergaard, J. B. & Hansen, L. E. (1991). Heteromorphic life histories in Arctic coccolithophorids (Prymnesiophyceae). Journal of Phycology. 27: 634-642. gs Young, J. R., Geisen, M. & Probert, I. (2005). A review of selected aspects of coccolithophore biology with implications for palaeobiodiversity estimation. Micropaleontology. 51(4): 267-288. gsReferences:
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Papposphaeraceae compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 7-3-2021
Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=1029 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes |