A-B = Papposphaera-stage, diameter=17 µm (A=PC, B=DIC); C-D = Turrisphaera-stage (found in the same sample as A-B), C = Coccosphere, diameter=15 µm (PC); D = Schematic drawings of coccoliths. All dry preparations
Life-form: Solitary
Size: Coccosphere diameter = 11-16 µm, cellbody = 4.5-7.0 µm
Resting spore:
Note: Best studied in TEM. The relationship between Papposphaera and Turrisphaera is discussed in Thomsen et al. (1991)
Distinctive features: Monomorphic styliform pappoliths
Similar species: Papposphaera thomsenii
Distribution: Worldwide
Literature:
Heimdal, B. R. 1993. Modern Coccolithophorids. In: Tomas, C. R. (ed.)
Marine Phytoplankton: a guide to naked flagellates and
coccolithophorids. p. 147-247.
Tangen, K. 1972. Papposphaera lepida,gen. nov. n. sp., a new marine coccolithophorid from Norwegian coastal waters. Norw. J. Bot. 19: 171-178.
Thomsen, H. A., Østergaard, J. B. & Hansen, L. E. 1991. Heteromorphic life histories in arctic coccolithophorids (Prymnesiophyceae). J. Phycol. 27: 634-642.