Variant: Discoaster caulifloris is regarded here as a variant of Discoaster exilis.
I.e. It is a subjective junior synonym, but some workers many find it useful for some studies (e.g. experienced biostratigraphers working with abundant, well preserved material), but for most purposes differentiating it is not reccomended. Please do use the comments section at the bottom of this page if you wish to discuss this interpretation
Taxonomy:
Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Discoaster exilis): Small central-area; usually with weak distal and proximal bosses; bifurcations acutely angled in plan-view
This taxon: large stellate stem and wide bifurcations
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: D. caulifloris *
Search data:
| LITHS: nannolith-radiate, star-shaped, CA: process, CROSS-POLARS: 1ou, V-prominent, |
| Lith size: 0->0µm; |
Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): near top of NN9 zone (90% up, 9.6Ma, in Tortonian stage). Data source: Browning et al. 2017 fig 4
First occurrence (base): in upper part of NN4 zone (60% up, 16.1Ma, in Burdigalian stage). Data source: Browning et al. 2017 fig 4
Plot of occurrence data:
Browning, E., Bergen, J. A., Blair, S. A., Boesiger, T. M. & de Kaenel, E. (2017). Late Miocene to Late Pliocene taxonomy and stratigraphy of the genus Discoaster in the circum North Atlantic Basin: Gulf of Mexico and ODP Leg 154. Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 37(2-3): 189-214. gs References:

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Discoaster caulifloris compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 16-11-2025
Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=1601 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes |
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Comments (2)
Hi Jeremy, there is an error in the name of this species. It's D. caulifloris and not D. cauliflorus.
Cheers, Alessandro
thanks for pointing that out - and i have corrected it now
Jeremy