The calcareous nannofossil species Nephrolithus frequens Górka (1957) and its morphotypes

• Published in: Journal of Paleontology
• Main Author: Ehrendorfer, Thomas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1994
• Subjects: Paleontology; Weddell Sea; Kerguelen; Indian; Weddell; Maud Rise
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022336000022782; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022336000022782

A complete morphologic intergradation from biperforate to multiperforate specimens of Nephrolithus frequens Górka (1957) occurs in the uppermost Maastrichtian chalk at southern high-latitude ODP Holes 750A (Kerguelen Plateau, southern Indian Ocean) and 690C (Maud Rise, Weddell Sea). Previous workers have assigned taxonomic importance to the number of pores of the central area. Two subspecies, N. frequens subsp. frequens and N. frequens subsp. miniporus , were recently differentiated (Pospichal and Wise, 1990) based on this character (four or more pores and two pores, respectively). The observation of specimens of Nephrolithus frequens with three pores in the central area indicates that there is no “natural” breaking point in a progression from two to numerous pores and that specimens of N. frequens with different pore numbers should be considered morphotypes of a single species exhibiting a high intraspecific variability. In addition, our observations using the scanning electron microscope and light microscope illustrate that in well-preserved specimens each pore in the central area is surrounded by two cycles of elements. The margin consists of two cycles, with the elements of the inner cycle extending proximally about twice as far as the elements of the outer cycle.