Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Mesozoic Holococcoliths Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Mesozoic Holococcoliths

Mesozoic Holococcoliths


Classification: ntax_main -> Mesozoic nannofossils -> Mesozoic Holococcoliths
Sister taxa: Arkhangelskiales, Eiffellithales, Stephanolithiales, Podorhabdales, Watznaueriales, Mesozoic Heterococcoliths inc sedis ⟩⟨ Mesozoic Holococcoliths, Mesozoic nannoliths inc sedis, Mesozoic Calcispheres inc sed

Daughter taxa (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)Granddaughter taxa
Common genera
The four most commonly recorded genera
Calculites
Lucianorhabdus
Orastrum
Owenia

Rarer genera
Less common genera


Taxonomy:
Citation: Mesozoic Holococcoliths
Taxonomic rank: informal group of families
Taxonomic discussion: Holococcoliths traditonally were all placed in a family the Calyptrosphaeraceae. However, study of modern coccolthophres has shown that holococcoliths are formed during the haploid life cycle stage of coccolithophres and so they are not a phylogenetic group (Young et al. 2003).
The subdivision here into common and rarer genera is made purely to highlight those genera which are worth paying attention to first.
Two genera, Multipartis and Octolithus, that have been recorded in the Maastrichtian are more common in the Cenozoic and are inlcuded with the Cenozoic holococoliths.

Synonyms:

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Mesozoic nannofossils): Predominantly Mesozoic nannofossils - except for Braarudosphaerales
This taxon: Coccoliths formed of minute (ca 0.1µm) rhombohedral micro-crystals. Often a life-cycle stage with heterococcolith counterpart(s).


Ecology & Biogeography
Holococcoliths can occur in any environments at the present day but high abundance and diversity of holococcoliths is considered typical of oligotrophic environments.

Search data:
Lith size: 0->0µm;
The morphological data given here can be used on the advanced search page. See also these notes

Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): at top of Late Maastrichtian Substage (100% up, 66Ma, in Danian stage). Data source: Total of ranges of the species in this database
First occurrence (base): within Toarcian Stage (174.70-184.20Ma, base in Toarcian stage). Data source: Total of ranges of species in this database

Plot of occurrence data:

References:

Young, J. R., Geisen, M., Cros, L., Kleijne, A., Probert, I. & Ostergaard, J. B. (2003). A guide to extant coccolithophore taxonomy. Journal of Nannoplankton Research. S1: 1-132. gs


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Mesozoic Holococcoliths compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 6-9-2026

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Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=10534 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes



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