Gephyrocapsa

Gephyrocapsa Kamptner 1943

Description: Coccoliths with structure similar to those of Emiliania and Reticulofenestra (see  Young 1989 for discussion), but with conjunct bridge, formed from inner tube-elements spanning central area; shields usually solid, i.e. without slits between the elements.

Species included: Gephyrocapsa taxonomy is notoriously confused but the following taxa are a useful starting set

 G. oceanica (modern) G. oceanica  
 G, muellerae (modern) G. muellerae  
Gcarib171-55NN20.JPG G. caribbeanica  
 Gephyroacapsa parallela G. omega  
 
G. lumina  
 G_eric_103-22.JPG small Gephyrocapsa  


Key references: Samtleben (1980), Matsuoka & Okada (1990), Bollmann (1997).

Life-cycle: Diploid phase non-motile producing heterococcoliths. Haploid phase motile, non-calcifying.

 

Type Species: Gephyrocapsa oceanica Kamptner 1943

G. oceanica (modern) G, muellerae (modern) G. oceanica (modern) G. muellerae (modern) 3-30gephyrocapsa.JPG

Geological Time Data
Geological Time Periods: 
Biblio Reference: 
Young, JR.  1998.  Neogene. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy. :225-265.
Scratchpads developed and conceived by: Vince Smith, Simon Rycroft, Dave Roberts, Ben Scott...