Nannotax Enabling nannofossil research

Description: Coccoliths are placoliths with rim structure similar to Calcidiscus, i.e. the V-unit forms distal shield and central-area/tube; R-unit forms proximal shield only. As in the Coccolithaceae, growth occurs downward from the proto-coccolith ring which becomes embedded within the structure so that alternating V- and R-units are only visible on specimens where the proximal shield has broken off.