Nannotax3 - ntax_cenozoic - Syracosphaera prolongata

Citation: Syracosphaera prolongata Gran 1912 ex Lohmann, 1913

Synonyms: Syracosphaera pirus Halldal & Markali 1955

Variants: Cros & Fortuño 2002 and Young et al. (2003) recognised three variants in this group, based essentially on body coccolith form. This scheme is not easy to apply consistently, intermediates occur, and the taxonomic names used by Cros & Fortuno and Young et al. 2003 are confusing. We suspect there is only one species and if it is considered useful to separate the forms we reccomend refering to them as types 1 to 3 - see table:

variant	distinguishing feature	also refered to as
S. prolongata type 1	BCs with small central spine	S. prolongata sensu Throndsen 1972
S. prolongata type 2	BCs with broad boss with 'twisted' elements	S. prolongata sensu Heimdal & Gaarder 1981
S. prolongata type 3	BCs with large elliptical boss	S. pirus

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (prolongata type): BCs with 3 flanges and spines or bosses, CFCs spine-bearing, with bifurcate tip. XCs muroliths with spines.
This taxon: see group diagnosis (monospecific)

Coccosphere shape variable - spherical to pyriform to spectacularly elongate.
XCs - sub-circular muroliths.
BCs - small (1.5-2.5µm) elliptical to lenticular, with large central boss.
CFCs - with well-developed spines with bifurcate tips

Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source: present in the plankton (Young et al. 2003)
First occurrence (base): within No known fossil record modern (0.00-0.00Ma, base in "Holocene" stage). Data source: [JRY rough estimate]

References:

Andruleit, H., Rogalla, U. & Staeger, S. (2005). Living coccolithophores recorded during the onset of upwelling conditions off Oman in the western Arabian Sea. Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 27(1): 1-14. gs

Cros, L. & Fortuño, J. -M. (2002). Atlas of northwestern Mediterranean coccolithophores. Scientia Marina. 66: 1-186. gs

Gran, H. H. (1912). Pelagic plant life. In, Murray, J. & Hjort, J. (eds) The Depths of the Ocean. Macmillan, London 307-386. gs

Halldal, P. & Markali, J. (1955). Electron microscope studies on coccolithophorids from the Norwegian Sea, the Gulf Stream and the Mediterranean. Avhandlinger utgitt av det Norske Videnskapsakademi i Oslo. 1955(1): 1-30. gs O

Heimdal, B. R. & Gaarder, K. R. (1981). Coccolithophorids from the northern part of the eastern central Atlantic II. Heterococcolithophorids. “Meteor” Forschungsergebnisse. 33: 37-69. gs

Heimdal, B. R. (1993). Modern Coccolithophorids. In, Tomas, C. R. (ed.) Marine Phytoplankton: A Guide to Naked Flagellates and Phytoplankton. Academic Press, London 147-243. gs

Konno, S. & Jordan, R. W. (2006). Lagoon coccolithophorids from the Republic of Palau, NW Equatorial Pacific. Journal of Nannoplankton Research. 28(2): 95-110. gs O

Malinverno, E., Leoni , B. & Galli, P. (2022). Coccolithophore assemblages and a new species of Alisphaera from the Faafu Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean. Marine Micropaleontology. 172(102110): 1-16. gs

Okada, H. & McIntyre, A. (1977). Modern coccolithophores of the Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. Micropaleontology. 23(1): 1-55. gs

Reid, F. M. H. (1980). Coccolithophorids of the North Pacific Central Gyre with notes on their vertical and seasonal distribution. Micropaleontology. 26(2): 151-176. gs

Winter, A., Reiss, Z. & Luz, B. (1979). Distribution of living coccolithophore assemblages in the Gulf of Elat ('Aqaba). Marine Micropaleontology. 4: 197-223. gs

Yang, T. -N., Wei, K. & Wu, J. -T. (2012). Marine coccolithophores around Taiwan. Biodiversity Research Center, Academica Sinica, Taipei. 1-96. 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

Syracosphaera prolongata

References:

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