Gladiolithus

Edited by Lyndsey on Thu, 10/03/2011 - 13:54

Genus Gladiolithus Jordan & Chamberlain 1993

Description: Dimorphic deep photic zone coccolithophores. Nannolith types:

A. Tubular coccoliths structures with basal disk supporting a long hexagonal-section spine; in LM isolated spine fragments resemble elongate Florisphaera profunda coccoliths.

B. Elliptical plates formed of two elements - “lepidoliths.”

Type species: G. flabellatus

Geological Time Data

Notes on occurrence information:

There have been few records of fossil G. flabellatus in the literature, but it has recently been shown to be abundant in Eocene sediments from Tanzania (Bown et al. 2008). It can also be found in well-preserved Neogene sediments as illustrated by the specimens shown here.