Taxonomy:
NB The epithet zigzag has been more widely used and is more descriptive but pygmaea has priority.
Distinguishing features: Small Pontosphaera with proximal grill and narrow transverse bar, usually with a distinct kink.
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: D. pygmaea * , T. zigzag *
Morphology: Small pores can be present on the basal plate and faint scalloping of the rim is present in some specimens (Self-Trail 2011)
Tags | LITHS: murolith, elliptical, CA: ca_conjunct, pores, bar, CROSS-POLARS: rim-bicyclic, V-prominent, R-prominent, |
Metrics | Lith size: 4->7µm; Data source notes: lith size from ODs & illustrated specimens |
Reported as ranging from the middle Eocene (e.g. Self-Trail, 2011) to Oligocene but is often most conspicuous across the Eocene/Oligocene transition. [Bown & Newsam 2017]
Plot of occurrence data:
Aubry, M-P. (1986a). Palaeogene calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of northwestern Europe. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology. 55: 267-334. gs Aubry, M. -P. (1990). Handbook of Cenozoic calcareous nannoplankton. Book 4: Heliolithae (Helicoliths, Cribriliths, Lopadoliths and others). Micropaleontology Press, American Museum of Natural History, New York. 1-381. gs Bown, P. R. & Newsam, C. (2017). Calcareous nannofossils from the Eocene North Atlantic Ocean (IODP Expedition 342 Sites U1403–1411). Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 37(1): 25-60. gs V O Hay, W. W., Mohler, H. P., Roth, P. H., Schmidt, R. R. & Boudreaux, J. E. (1967). Calcareous nannoplankton zonation of the Cenozoic of the Gulf Coast and Caribbean-Antillean area, and transoceanic correlation. Transactions of the Gulf-Coast Association of Geological Societies. 17: 428-480. gs V O Locker, S. (1967c). Neue, statigraphisch wichtige Coccolithophoriden (Flagellata aus dem norddeutschen Altetiar). Monatsberichte der Deutschen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. 9(9-10): 758-769. gs Perch-Nielsen, K. (1984b). Validation of new combinations. INA Newsletter. 6(1): 42-46. gs V O Self-Trail, J. (2011). Paleogene Calcareous Nannofossils of the South Dover Bridge core, Southern Maryland (USA). Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 32(1): 1-28. gs V O Shepherd, C. L. & Kulhanek, D. K. (2016). Eocene nannofossil biostratigraphy of the mid-Waipara River section, Canterbury Basin, New Zealand. Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 26(1): 33-59. gs V O Varol, O. (1998). Palaeogene. In, Bown, P. R. (ed.) Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy. British Micropalaeontological Society Publication Series. 200-224. gsReferences:
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Pontosphaera pygmaea compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 1-3-2021
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