Gephyrocapsa lumina Bukry 1973
Description: Large Gephyrocapsa species with bridge steeply inclined (50-30°) to the long axis, central opening narrow or nearly closed.
Size: Coccolith length 5.5 - 7µm. (the minimum length of 5.5µm is a rather artificial cut-off but useful for biostratigraphy, see e.g. Raffi et al. 2006).
Remarks:As indicated by the synonymy below a wide range of informal names have been applied to this morphotpye, but G. lumina is a valid formally described name. G. carribbeanica is a somewhat similar Late Quaternary species but this has a more closed central area and the bridge is nearly flush with the shield rather than elevated above it, as is the case in G. lumina.
Original description:
Synonyms
NB The name G. caribbeanica has also been applied to this morphtype by, for example, Pujos-Lamy (1977), Samteleben (1980), Perch-Nielsen (1985). In modern usage however, the name is normally only applied to the Late Quaternary form.
Neogene: Gephyrocapsa; Gephyrocapsa lumina