Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Prinsiosphaera triassica

Citation: Prinsiosphaera triassica Jafar, 1983

Synonyms:

Problematic coccoliths Fischer, Honjo and Garrison, 1967 [cf. Bralower et al. 1991]
Undetermined globular calcitic body Moshkovitz 1982 [cf. Bralower et al. 1991]

Variants: Jafar (983) introduced five subspecies, these are discussed at length by Bralower et al. (1991) who conclude they are intergradational and of limited value. However, one of them, Prinsiosphaera triassica crenulata, has subsequently been considered a useful taxon (Rutledge et al. 2015). The remaining four subspecies are still considered preservational variants:

Prinsiosphaera triassica punctata Jafar, 1983
Prinsiosphaera triassica perforata Jafar, 1983
Prinsiosphaera triassica hyalina Jafar, 1983
Prinsiosphaera triassica noeliae Jafar, 1983

Taxonomic discussion: The species is discussed at length by Bralower et al. (1991). According to them etching and overgrowth can greatly effect the appearance of the species - and lead to the various morphotypes recognised as subspecies by Jafar (1983).

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Prinsiosphaera): Spherical, solid nannolith formed from stacked groups of calcite plates.
This taxon: Medium to large spherical solid nannolith formed from stacked groups of calcite plates.

Geological Range:
Notes: Gardin et al. (2012) record P. triassica from the topmost Norian and throughout the Rhaetian. Erba et al. (2025) record much older specimens, down to the Early Triassic, from sections in China. Slater et al. (2025) did not observe the species in their, better preserved, material.
Last occurrence (top): within NT2b subzone (194.83-218.41Ma, top in Sinemurian stage). Data source: Bown 1998b
First occurrence (base): within Early Triassic Epoch (246.70-251.90Ma, base in Induan stage). Data source: Erba et al. 2025

References:

Bown, P. R. (1987a). Taxonomy, evolution, and biostratigraphy of Late Triassic-Early Jurassic calcareous nannofossils. Special Papers in Palaeontology. 38: 1-118. gs

Bown, P. R. (1998b). Triassic. In, Bown, P. R. (ed.) Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy. British Micropalaeontological Society Publication Series . 29-33. gs

Bralower, T. J., Bown, P. R. & Siesser, W. (1991). Significance of Upper Triassic nannofossils from the Southern Hemisphere (ODP Leg 122, Wombat Plateau, NW Australia). Marine Micropaleontology. 17: 119-154. gs

Erba, E., Bottini, C., Da-Yong, J., Motani, R., Tintori, A. & Faucher, G. (2025). Early Triassic origin of coccolithogenesis. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia. 131(2): 441-455. gs

Gardin, S., Krystyn, L., Richoz, S., Bartolini, A. & Galbrun, B. (2012). Where and when the earliest coccolithophores? Lethaia. 45: 507-523. gs

Jafar, A. S. (1983). Significance of Late Triassic calcareous nannoplankton from Austria and Southern Germany. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen. 166: 218-259. gs

Rutledge, D. C., Cole, S., Lawrence, T. & Gard, G. (2015). A new species of late Triassic nannofossil, Botulus triassicus, and observations on Triassic assemblages from the NW Shelf of Australia. In, Bybell, L. (ed.) INA15 abstracts Bohol, Philippines. Journal of Nannoplankton Research . 35(S): 71-71. gs

Slater, S., Demangel, I. & Richoz, S. (2025). 'Ghost' fossils of early coccolithophores point to a Triassic diversification of marine calcifying organisms. Nature Communications. 16(9283): 1-7. gs

Prinsiosphaera triassica

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Sub-taxa & variants (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)
				Prinsiosphaera triassica subsp. crenulata In LM appears to be formed of crenulate layers.