Daughter taxa (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)![]() | Granddaughter taxa | ||||
SY pulchra gp BCs - with distal, mid-wall and basal flanges (except S. noroitica type), and/or with low spines (except S. pulchra and S. dilatata type). XCs - dome-shaped or muroliths. CFCs - usually spine-bearing with bifurcate spine-tip. | |||||
SY molischii gp BCs placolith-like (i.e. with proximal and distal flanges), often with ridges and irregular central area calcification, no spines. XCs variable. | |||||
SY nodosa gp BCs muroliths, without distinct inner wall cycle; laths rather broad. XCs planoliths. | |||||
![]() | SY mediterranea group BCs muroliths with imbricate wall, bipartite axial structure. No XCs (formerly Coronosphaera) | ||||
![]() | Syraco - fossil FossilSyracosphaera coccoliths | Syracosphaera croatica Coronosphaera caputiae Syracosphaera clathrata Syracosphaera fragilis Syracosphaera horvati Syracosphaera oneillii Syracosphaera franzii Syracosphaera monechiae Syracosphaera octiforma Syracosphaera raffiae Syracosphaera tanzanensis Syraco sp. fossil | |||
![]() | Syracosphaera sp. Specimens which cannot be assigned to established species |
Taxonomy:
NB Caneosphaera and Deutschlandia are usually considered synonyms of Syracosphaera following Jordan & Young (1990). Gaarderia was recombined in Syracosphaera by Young et al. (2003) on the grounds that it showed too few unique features to be regarded as a separate genus. Anthosphaera, Periphyllophora, Poricalyptra, Syracolithus, and Zygosphaera were genera based on holococcoliths which are now known to formed by Syracosphaera species.
So, in the interest of practical taxonomy, and to avoid nomenclatural instability, we strongly reccommend that nomenclatural changes are not made at least until there is a significant body of reliable molecular genetic and life-cycle data.
In this context, Aubry (2009) recombined many species into Deutschlandia on the basis of putative similarities of exothecal coccolith form. This reclassification is not followed here. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the combinations proposed are valid and would need to be heeded in any other reclassification of the genus.
Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Syracosphaeraceae): BCs muroliths or placoliths with radial laths and axial structure, ofen with higlhy modified exothecal coccoliths
This taxon: Coccospheres usually dithecate. Exothecal coccoliths (XCs) highly variable. Endothecal coccoliths are muroliths with 1, 2 or 3 flanges, the forms with 2 flanges are often placolith-like.
Farinacci & Howe catalog pages: Syracosphaera + * , Caneosphaera * , Deutschlandia * , Gaarderia, Heimiella * , Syracorhabdus, Periphyllophora * , Anthosphaera + *
Morphology:
Exothecal coccolith structure: As argued by Inouye & Pienaar (1988), Cros (2000) and Young et al. (2004), exothecal coccoliths appear to be modified versions of the endothecal coccoliths, and are composed of the same set of components - rim, radial lath cycle and axial structure. However, the morphology of the coccoliths is highly variable and often radically different to that of the body coccoliths.
Biology & life-cycles
Lith size: 1->8µm; Coccosphere size: 3->70µm; |
Geological Range:
Notes: About 60 modern species of Syracosphaera are known (Young et al. 2003) and their coccolith morphology is well established (see examples above). Syracosphaera coccoliths are not common in the fossil record even in the Holocene and heir small size means both that the havea low preservation potential and that identification of them requires SEM study. Consequently their fossil record is still very poorly known and it is not clear whether the modern diversity is a result of a recent radiation. Most Pleistocene specimens of Syracosphaera can be assigned to modern taxa, e.g. S. pulchra, S. mediterranea and S. aurisinae (= S. lamina). In older sediments Syracosphaera specimens are typically even rarer and often appear to belong to different species.
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source: Total of ranges of the species in this database
First occurrence (base): within NP3 zone (63.25-64.81Ma, base in Danian stage). Data source: Total of ranges of species in this database
Plot of occurrence data:
Aubry, M. -P. (2009). A sea of Lilliputians. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology. 284: 88-113. gs Cros, L. (2000). Variety of exothecal coccoliths of Syracosphaera. Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 22(1): 41-51. gs Gaarder, K. R. & Heimdal, B. R. (1977). A revision of the genus Syracosphaera Lohmann (Coccolithineae). “Meteor” Forschungsergebnisse. 24: 54-71. gs O Kleijne, A. & Cros, L. (2009). Ten new extant species of the coccolithophore Syracosphaera and a revised classification scheme for the genus. Micropaleontology. 55(5): 425-462. gs Kleijne, A. (1993b). Morphology, Taxonomy and distribution of extant coccolithophorids (Calcareous nannoplankton). PhD Thesis, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 1-321. gs Loeblich, A. R. & Tappan, H. (1966). Annotated index and bibliography of the calcareous nannoplankton. Phycologia. 5: 81-216. gs Lohmann, H. (1902). Die Coccolithophoridae, eine Monographie der Coccolithen bildenden Flagellaten, zugleich ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Mittelmeerauftriebs. Archiv für Protistenkunde. 1: 89-165. gs O Lohmann, H. (1912). Untersuchungen über das Pflanzen- und Tierleben der Hochsee, zugleich ein Bericht über die biologischen Arbeiten auf der Fahrt der "Deutschland" von Bremerhaven nach Buenos-Aires in der Zeit vom 7. Mai bis 7. September 1911. Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Meereskunde an der Universität Berlin. 1: 1-92. gs 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 References:
![]() |
Syracosphaera compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 6-2-2025
Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=1339 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes |
![]() |
This policy contains information about your privacy. By posting, you are declaring that you understand this policy:
This policy is subject to change at any time and without notice.
These terms and conditions contain rules about posting comments. By submitting a comment, you are declaring that you agree with these rules:
Failure to comply with these rules may result in being banned from submitting further comments.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice.
Comments