pforams@mikrotax - Catapsydrax howei

pforams@mikrotax - Catapsydrax howei pforams@mikrotax - Catapsydrax howei

Catapsydrax howei

Classification: pf_cenozoic -> Globigerinidae -> Catapsydrax -> Catapsydrax howei
Sister taxa: C. indianus, C. dissimilis, C. globiformis, C. africanus, C. howei, C. unicavus, C. sp.

Eocene_Atlas_pl05-2_fig13-14.jpg
Eocene_Atlas_pl05-2_fig15-16.jpg

Taxonomy

Citation: Catapsydrax howei (Blow&Banner 1962)

Taxonomic rank: species

Basionym: Globigerinita howei

Synonyms:

Globigerinita howei Blow and Banner, 1962:109, pl. 14: figs. P-R (holotype) [Globigerapsis semi-involuta Zone, Sample FCRM 1645, Lindi, Tanzania].
Catapsydrax golicynensis Menkes, 1975:281-282, pl. 1: figs. 1-2 [upper Eocene zone of large globigerinids, Borehole 1, Golitsyn depression, Black Sea].
Not Catapsydrax howei (Blow and Banner). Warraich and Ogasawara, 2001:44, fig. 12: 4-6.

Taxonomic discussion: The loosely coiled test with large circular, infralaminal apertures of Catapsydrax howei somewhat resembles Recent Globigerinoides, suggesting a shallow habitat in the water column. We illustrate the holotype in SEM for the first time (Pl.5.2, Figs. 9-12) along with newly collected specimens from the type locality (Pl.5.2, Figs. 13-16). Catapsydrax golicynensis Menkes from the upper Eocene of the Black Sea exhibits the large arched aperture of this species and is a probable synonym. The specimen figured by Warraich and Ogasawara (2001) is a five-chambered form that does not match the morphology of C. howei. [Olsson et al. 2006]

Catalog entries: Globigerinita howei, Catapsydrax golicynensis

Type images:

holotype: G. howei
holotype: G. howei

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Catapsydrax): Like Globorotaloides but more compact, radially compressed, with appressed inflated chambers in the final whorl, and always with bulla
This taxon: Larger, loosely coiled test, with large globular bulla with 3 large, circular, infralaminal apertures

NB These concise distinguishing features statements are used in the tables of daughter-taxa to act as quick summaries of the differences between e.g. species of one genus.
They are being edited as the site is developed and comments on them are especially welcome.

Description

Diagnostic characters:

Catapsydrax howei is distinguished from C. africanus by its larger, more loosely coiled test, large globular bulla with large, circular, infralaminal apertures. Catapsydrax globiformis is smaller, has a spherical-shaped test with a low slightly inflated bulla with small circular, infralaminal apertures. [Olsson et al. 2006]

Morphology:

Low trochospiral, lobulate test with generally 3 chambers, somewhat loosely coiled, in the final whorl. Chambers inflated, globular increasing rapidly in size with a large globular, inflated bulla covering the umbilicus; in spiral view 3 globular chambers increasing rapidly in size, sutures straight to slightly curved, moderated depressed; in umbilical view dominated by a large inflated bulla with 3 large circular, infralaminal apertures with a continuous, thickened imperforate rim facing each suture; sutures straight, somewhat strongly depressed; in edge view globular in shape with bulla showing one infralaminal aperture opening onto the suture line. [Olsson et al. 2006]

Wall type:

Cancellate, probably spinose in life, ruber/sacculifer-type wall texture. [Olsson et al. 2006]

Size:

Holotype maximum diameter 0.54 mm, thickness 0.53 mm. [Olsson et al. 2006]

Character matrix
test outline: Lobate chamber arrangement: Trochospiral edge view: Equally biconvex aperture: Umbilical
sp chamber shape: Globular coiling axis: Low periphery: N/A aperture border: Bulla
umb chbr shape: Globular umbilicus: Wide periph margin shape: Broadly rounded accessory apertures: Infralaminal
spiral sutures: Strongly depressed umb depth: Deep wall texture: Cancellate shell porosity: Finely Perforate: 1-2.5µm
umbilical or test sutures: Strongly depressed final-whorl chambers: 3-3 N.B. These characters are used for advanced search. N/A - not applicable

Biogeography and Palaeobiology

Geographic distribution

Known from tropical to mid latitude sites. [Olsson et al. 2006]
Aze et al. 2011 summary: Low to middle latitudes; based on Olsson et al. (2006c)

Isotope paleobiology

No data available. [Olsson et al. 2006]
Aze et al. 2011 ecogroup 4 - Open ocean sub-thermocline. Based on very light _¹³C and very heavy _¹⁸O. Sources cited by Aze et al. 2011 (appendix S3): Keller (1985)

Phylogenetic relations

Catapsydrax howei probably evolved from C. unicavus in the middle Eocene by becoming larger and more loosely coiled, and developing a large, globular, inflated bulla with large circular, infralaminal apertures. [Olsson et al. 2006]

Most likely ancestor: Catapsydrax unicavus - at confidence level 4 (out of 5). Data source: Olsson et al. 2006 f5.1.
Likely descendants: Catapsydrax africanus; plot with descendants

Biostratigraphic distribution

Geological Range:
Notes: Zone E9 to E16. [Olsson et al. 2006]
Last occurrence (top): within E16 zone (33.90-34.68Ma, top in Priabonian stage). Data source: Olsson et al. 2006 f5.1
First occurrence (base): within E9 zone (43.23-43.85Ma, base in Lutetian stage). Data source: Olsson et al. 2006 f5.1

Plot of occurrence data:

Range-bar - range as quoted above, pink interval top occurs in, green interval base occurs in.
Triangles indicate an event for which a precise placement has been suggested
Histogram - Neptune occurrence data from DSDP and ODP proceedings. Pale shading <50 samples in time bin. Interpret with caution & read these notes
Taxon plotted: Catapsydrax howei, synonyms included - Catapsydrax howei; Globigerinatheka howeii; Globigerinita howei;
See also space-time plot :: Samples map :: Parent: Catapsydrax

Primary source for this page: Olsson et al. 2006 - Eocene Atlas, chap. 5, p. 72

References:

Blow, W. H. & Banner, F. T. (1962). The mid-Tertiary (Upper Eocene to Aquitanian) Globigerinaceae. In, Eames, F. E., Banner, F. T., Blow, W. H. & Clarke, W. J. (eds) Fundamentals of mid-Tertiary Stratigraphical Correlation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 61-151. gs

Menkes, M. A. (1975). Representatives of the genus Catapsydrax in the Eocene deposits of the South Ukraine. Trudyi Instituta Geologii i Geogiziki, Sibiriskoe Otlodelenie, Akademiya Nauk SSSR (Nauka) Moscow. 333: 281-. gs

Olsson, R. K., Pearson, P. N. & Huber, B. T. (2006c). Taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and phylogeny of Eocene Catapsydrax, Globorotaloides, Guembelitrioides, Paragloborotalia, Parasubbotina, and Pseudoglobigerinella n. gen. In, Pearson, P. N., Olsson, R. K., Hemleben, C., Huber, B. T. & Berggren, W. A. (eds) Atlas of Eocene Planktonic Foraminifera. Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research, Special Publication . 41(Chap 5): 67-110. gs O

Warraich, M. Y. & Ogasawara, K. (2001). Tethyan Paleocene-Eocene planktic foraminifera from the Rakhi Nala and Zinda Pir land sections of the Sulaiman Range, Pakistan. Science Reports of the Institute of Geosciences, University of Tsukuba. 22: 1-59. gs

Catapsydrax howei compiled by the pforams@mikrotax project team viewed: 13-11-2025

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test outline:	Lobate	chamber arrangement:	Trochospiral	edge view:	Equally biconvex	aperture:	Umbilical
sp chamber shape:	Globular	coiling axis:	Low	periphery:	N/A	aperture border:	Bulla
umb chbr shape:	Globular	umbilicus:	Wide	periph margin shape:	Broadly rounded	accessory apertures:	Infralaminal
spiral sutures:	Strongly depressed	umb depth:	Deep	wall texture:	Cancellate	shell porosity:	Finely Perforate: 1-2.5µm
umbilical or test sutures:	Strongly depressed	final-whorl chambers:	3-3	N.B. These characters are used for advanced search. N/A - not applicable