Hughesius tasmaniae (Edwards and Perch-Nielsen, 1975) de Kaenel and Villa, 1996 [Ericsonia]
Description: Medium sized species of Hughesius (3-5μm long), with 4 plates in central-area.
Remarks: This species is intermediate between Clausicoccus fenestratus and Hughesius gizoensis, in terms of size, number of plates, and rim birefringence. It probably forms part of an evolutionary lineage between these species.
Original description:
Range: Palaeogene to NN9 (rare above NN3).
Synonym: Recorded as Hughesius sp. by Varol, 1989.
Neogene: Hughesius; Hughesius tasmaniae
Genus Hughesius Varol, 1989
Description: Placolith coccoliths showing low birefringence with central area filled by 2 to 4 plates, without obvious perforations.
Remarks: There appears to be a lineage extending from Clausicoccus fenestratus via H. tasmaniae to H. gizoensis, involving size decrease and reduction of the R-units. H. tasmaniae is very similar to Clausicoccus and essentially is Clausicoccus without prominent perforations, H. gizoensis seems to have a simpler shield structure, possibly as a result of the smaller size.
Type species: H. gizoensis Varol 1989
Neogene: Clausicoccus fenestratus; Hughesius
Paleogene: Clausicoccus fenestratus
FAMILY COCCOLITHACEAE Poche, 1913 emend Young & Bown 1997
Description: Coccoliths are placoliths with rim structure similar to Coccolithus: V-unit forms both distal shield and lower cycle of central-area; R-unit forms both proximal shield and upper cycle of central-area.
Genera included:
Neogene: Clausicoccus; Coccolithaceae; Coccolithus; Coronocyclus; Cruciplacolithus; Hughesius; Solidopons