Articles | Volume 45, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-45-725-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-45-725-2026
Research article
 | 
10 Nov 2026
Research article |  | 10 Nov 2026

Does Furcatolithus akropodus have two morphotypes useful for biostratigraphic purposes?

Davide Righi, Lara Antelmi, and Davide Persico

Cited articles

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Aubry, M.-P.: Coccolithophores: Cenozoic Discoasterales – Biology, Taxonomy, Stratigraphy, SEPM Concepts in Sedimentology and Paleontology, 14, SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology, https://doi.org/10.2110/sepmcsp.14, 2021. 
Aubry, M. P., Bord, D., and Rodriguez, O.: New taxa of the Order Discoasterales Hay 1977, Micropaleontology, 57, 269–287, 2011. 
Bergen, J. A., Kaenel, E. D., Blair, S. A., Boesiger, T. M., and Browning, E.: Oligocene–Pliocene taxonomy and stratigraphy of the genus Sphenolithus in the circum North Atlantic Basin: Gulf of Mexico and ODP Leg 154, J. Nannoplankt. Res., 37, 77–112, https://doi.org/10.58998/jnr2016, 2017. 
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Short summary
This article presents a morphological study based on light microscopic observations that revealed two morphotypes within the species Furcatolithus akropodus. The two morphotypes are distinguished by the presence or absence of a suture in the bifid spine. Recognising these differences and defining two distinct biostratigraphic ranges allowed us to differentiate the morphotypes into two species, F. akropodus and the new species F. xiphopodus, improving early Oligocene biostratigraphy.
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