GLADIOLITHUS-STRIATUS SP. NOV. (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE), A LIVING COCCOLITHOPHORE FROM THE LOWER PHOTIC ZONE OF THE PACIFIC-OCEAN

During a study of the modern coccolithophore flora in the central and western Pacific, a hitherto undescribed taxon belonging to the genus G ladiolithus Jordan et Chamberlain was recorded. Here, Gladiolithus str iatus sp. nov. is described. The new species resembles Gladiolithus fl abellatus (Halldal et Marl;ali) Jordan et Chamberlain in the general c onstruction of the coccosphere, but there are differences in coccolith morphology. The major differences are (1) horizontal grooves occur on the external side of the tubular coccoliths; (2) the lepidolith is a rectangular plate with a finely grooved external surface (G. flabellat us has an oval disc with a smooth external surface); and (3) the sutur e line separating the two platelets of the lepidolith runs diagonally tit runs along the short axis in G. flabellatus).