Nannotax Enabling nannofossil research

Coccosphere: Motile, dimorphic. Prominent flagellar opening surrounded by 3 CFCs with higher and wider protrusion.

Coccoliths: Base and protrusion elongate elliptical; protrusion has double-lipped form, especially in LM. Cycle of irregular laths covers proximal face of central area.

Original description:

Holococcolith phase: Combination coccospheres with Sphaerocalyptra quadridentata have been illustrated by Kamptner (1941) and Triantaphyllou & Dimiza (2003).

Synonyms:

• Algirosphaera oryza Schlauder 1945;
• Algirosphaera quadricornu (Schiller 1914) Norris 1984 [Syracosphaera];
• Algirosphaera aurea (Bernard & Lecal 1960) [Anthosphaera];
• Anthosphaera bicornu Schlauder 1945;

There are also others, see Kleijne (1992). Subdivisions on nature of circum-flagellar coccoliths, coccosphere shape, and shape of body coccoliths have been suggested but do not seem meaningful (Kleijne 1992, Probert et al., 2007).