Discosphaera tubifera

Edited by Lyndsey on Thu, 10/03/2011 - 12:19

Discosphaera tubifera (Murray & Blackman 1898) Ostenfeld 1900 [Rhabdosphaera]

Extant coccolithophore: The only described species of Discosphaera; characterised by monomorphc coccosphere with all coccoliths bearing trumpet-like protrusions (see also generic description). Common in oligotrophic surface waters.

Fossil record: Never common but specimens occur consistently in well-preserved sub-tropical sediments. Usually the base is detached but appearance of trumpet-like processes is distinctive in LM (see images).