Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Coccolithus Nannotax3 - ntax_main - Coccolithus

Coccolithus


Classification: ntax_main -> Coccolithales -> Coccolithaceae -> Coccolithus
Sister taxa: Coccolithus, Coronocyclus, Ericsonia, Mauriceblackia ⟩⟨ Solidopons ⟩⟨ Cruciplacolithus, Pletolithus, Campylosphaera, Bramletteius, Chiasmolithus ⟩⟨ Birkelundia, Clausicoccus, Crassidiscus, Hornibrookina, Hughesius ⟩⟨ Craticullithus, Jeremyella, Kilwalithus

Daughter taxa (time control age-window is: 0-800Ma)Granddaughter taxa
C. pelagicus group
Elliptical to sub-circular with central opening-sometimes with bar or delicate cross
Coccolithus pelagicus
Coccolithus miopelagicus
Coccolithus tenuiforatus
Coccolithus eopelagicus
Coccolithus latus
Coccolithus bownii
Coccolithus crassus

Coccolithus floralis
Like typical Coccolithus pelagicus but with flaring tube on the distal side; Miocene

C. formosus group
Circular to subcircular
Coccolithus crucis
Coccolithus foraminis
Coccolithus formosus
Coccolithus pauxillus
Coccolithus subcirculus
Coccolithus supremus

C. biparteoperculatus group
Central area filled by broad bar
Coccolithus biparteoperculatus
Coccolithus cachaoi
Coccolithus scheri

Coccolithus sp.
Specimens which cannot be assigned to established species


Taxonomy:
Citation: Coccolithus Schwarz, 1894
Taxonomic rank: genus
Type species: Coccolithus pelagicus (Wallich, 1877) Schiller, 1930
Synonyms:
Taxonomic discussion: Circular species do not occur in Neogene. Differentiation of Cruciplacolithus and Coccolithus can be problematic.

Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Coccolithaceae): 2N: cells non-motile, bearing placoliths with R-unit extending from proximal shield to form upper/inner tube-cyle, mostly elliptical
N: cells motile, holococcolith-bearing

This taxon: Eliptical or circular; central area usually open, may have with simple bar or weak axial cross

Farinacci & Howe catalog pages:
Coccolithus * , Coccosphaera * , Coccolithophora * , Cyathosphaera * , Cyatolithus * , Crystallolithus * , Ectalithus *


Morphology:
Elliptical or circular placolith coccolith showing the typical coccolithaceae rim structure (V-unit forms distal shield and lower cycle of central-area; R-unit forms proximal shield and upper cycle of central-area), central area open or spanned by disjunct bar on proximal surface.

Search data:
LITHS: placolith, elliptical,
CSPH: equant, monomorphic, CROSS-POLARS: rim-bicyclic, V-prominent, R-prominent,
Lith size: 3->24µm;
The morphological data given here can be used on the advanced search page. See also these notes

Geological Range:
Last occurrence (top): Extant. Data source: Total of ranges of the species in this database
First occurrence (base): within NP1 zone (65.47-66.04Ma, base in Danian stage). Data source: Total of ranges of species in this database

Plot of occurrence data:

References:

Bown, P. R. (2005b). Cenozoic calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, ODP Leg 198 Site 1208 (Shatsky Rise, northwest Pacific Ocean). Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results. 198: 1-44. gs

Jordan, R. W., Cros, L. & Young, J. R. (2004). A revised classification scheme for living Haptophytes. Micropaleontology. 50(supplement 1): 55-79. gs

Schiller, J. (1930). Coccolithineae. In, Rabenhorst, L. (ed.) Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Leipzig (10): 89-267. gs O

Schwarz, E. H. L. (1894). Coccoliths. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 14: 341-346. gs

Wallich, G. C. (1877). Observations on the coccosphere. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 19: 342-350. gs


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Coccolithus compiled by Jeremy R. Young, Paul R. Bown, Jacqueline A. Lees viewed: 11-4-2026

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Short stable page link: https://mikrotax.org/Nannotax3/index.php?id=316 Go to Archive.is to create a permanent copy of this page - citation notes



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