Taxonomy:
Distinguishing features: Very small (2-3µm); narrowly elliptical; central area wide, spanned by radial bars.
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: T. reticulum *
Very small Toweius (1.8–3.0μm) with relatively wide central area (width similar to or slightly greater than the rim) spanned by a grill formed from radial bars that merge to form a central longitudinal bar or plate, which may be perforate. [Bown 2016]
Morphology:
This species has not been unambiguously identified in LM due to its small size, but is likely one of the taxa commonly informally grouped as small Toweius. [Bown 2016]
Distinguished from other Toweius by the small size and central area grill predominantly composed of radial, lath-like bars. Somewhat similar to Eocene specimens described as Cyathosphaera martinii Hay & Towe, 1962, but T. reticulum has thicker central area bars and a central longitudinal structure with pores. In addition, the generic affinity of C. martini is uncertain and it may be a small reticulofenestrid. [Bown 2016]
Tags | LITHS: placolith, elliptical, CA: ca_conjunct, grill, CSPH: equant, monomorphic, CROSS-POLARS: rim-bicyclic, V-prominent, R-prominent, |
Metrics | Lith size: 2->3µm; |
Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): within NP6 zone (58.97-59.54Ma, top in Thanetian stage). Data source: Bown 2016
First occurrence (base): within NP6 zone (58.97-59.54Ma, base in Selandian stage). Data source: Bown 2016
Plot of occurrence data:
![]() |
Toweius reticulum compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 28-2-2021
Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=1421 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes |