''Syracosphaera azureaplaneta'' is a species of
coccolithophore. This oceanic
phytoplankton
Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), meaning 'wanderer' or 'drifter'.
Ph ...
is not common, but is widely distributed and is known to occur in all the major seas, from tropical to sub-arctic regions.
It is named after the BBC TV documentary series, ''
The Blue Planet''.
Discovery
The species was first described in 2018, following a study of
scanning electron micrographs of samples previously assumed to be of ''
Syracosphaera corolla
''Syracosphaera'' is a genus of coccolithophore. Species include:
* '' Syracosphaera azureaplaneta''
* '' Syracosphaera corolla''
References
Haptophyte genera
{{Haptophyte-stub ...
'' Lecal, 1966. They had mostly been collected by vacuum filtration of sea water from many varied environments, but investigation by researchers revealed two distinct morphological types. As a result, this new species (''S. azureaplaneta'') was described, and the description of ''S. corolla'' was correspondingly emended.
[
The two species are similar with bowl-shaped body-coccoliths covering the entire cell and a partial outer layer of larger exothecal coccoliths. They primarily differ in their exothecal coccoliths, these have a rough resemblance to a simple inflatable boat, and differ most obviously in the relative widths of the central area of the exothecal coccolith. In ''S. azureaplaneta'' this central area is roughly half as wide as it is long, whereas in ''S. corolla'' the central area is much narrower, being approximately a quarter of its length.][
]
Etymology
The species name derives from the Latin azurea (blue) and planeta (planet). It was so-named to honour the BBC TV documentary wildlife series, '' The Blue Planet'', as well as in recognition of the programme's presenter, Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough (; born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural histor ...
, for his contribution to promoting wider understanding and awareness of the oceanic environment.
Holotype
The holotype (type specimen) of ''S. azureaplaneta'' was collected in the South Atlantic from the RRS James Clark Ross
''Noosfera'' ( ua, Ноосфера, , Noosphere) is a polar supply and research ship operated by the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine. Until 2021, she was operated by the British Antarctic Survey and named RRS ''James Clark ...
research vessel whilst on the 18th Atlantic Meridional Transect
The Atlantic Meridional Transect (abbreviated as AMT) is a multi-decadal oceanographic programme that undertakes biological, chemical and physical research during annual voyages between the UK and destinations in the South Atlantic. The ongoing AM ...
research cruise in 2008. The specimens are housed in the Natural History Museum, London
The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum ...
.[
]
See also
* List of things named after David Attenborough and his works
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q55634520
Haptophyte species