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IRMNG taxon detailsCalcisphaera W.C. Williamson, 1880 †
1373714 (urn:lsid:irmng.org:taxname:1373714)
accepted
Genus
Calcisphaera J.W. Dawson, 1881 † · unaccepted (later usage incorrectly cited as...)
later usage incorrectly cited as a new name
fossil only
Williamson, W. C. (1880). On the organization of the fossil plants of the coal-measures.—Part X. Including an examination of the supposed radiolarians of the carboniferous rocks. <em>Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London.</em> 171(2): 493-539., available online at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rstl.1880.0014 [details]
Taxonomic remark This generic name is used in both Charophyta and Calcitarcha (a group of incertae sedis microfossils) in recent literature....
Taxonomic remark This generic name is used in both Charophyta and Calcitarcha (a group of incertae sedis microfossils) in recent literature. Charophyta is technically correct, based on the lectotypification of the genus by Miller, 1889 using C. robusta, a charophyte gyrogonite (spore) now classified in the later genus Trochiliscus, so technically Calcisphaera (unless re-typified e.g. by IAPT decision) becomes an unused senior synonym of Trochiliscus, although it is not yet listed as such here. However other workers e.g. Horn af Rantzien, 1956 have recommended that Miller's type designation be "set aside", or simply treated as invalid (Peck & Morales, 1966) so that the later usage of C. laevis as type (by Andrews, 1955 et seq) can be employed meaning that Calcisphaera becomes a calcitarch as possibly originally intended by Williamson (C. laevis is the first species he discusses), and used by recent (algal) calcitarch workers, also by some foraminiferal ones who view Calcisphaera as the type of a foraminiferal family, Calcisphaeridae. The situation probably requires application to the IAPT for a ruling on whether or not a new type could or should be designated for the genus; for the present it remains a charophyte, as also stated in Index Nominum Genericorum and AlgaeBase (2026 versions). [details]
IRMNG (2026). Calcisphaera W.C. Williamson, 1880 †. Accessed at: https://www.irmng.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1373714 on 2026-07-22
Date action by
original description
Williamson, W. C. (1880). On the organization of the fossil plants of the coal-measures.—Part X. Including an examination of the supposed radiolarians of the carboniferous rocks. <em>Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London.</em> 171(2): 493-539., available online at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rstl.1880.0014 [details]
basis of record Farr, E. R.; Zijlstra, G. (eds). (1996-current). Index Nominum Genericorum (ING). A compilation of generic names published for organisms covered by the ICN: International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. [previously: organisms covered by the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature] (2007 version). , available online at https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/ [details] additional source Vachard, D.; Krainer, K.; Lucas, S. G. (2012). Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) calcareous microfossils from Cedro Peak (New Mexico, USA). Part 1: Algae and Microproblematica. <em>Annales de Paléontologie.</em> 98(4): 225-252., available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annpal.2012.06.003 note: alternative taxonomic treatment, refer note [details] additional source Miller, S. A. (1889). North American Geology and Palaeontology for the use of Amateurs, Students and Scientists. <em>Western Methodist Book Concern. Cincinnati.</em> 664 p., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/229500 note: type species fixation (C. robusta), p. 155 [details] additional source Versteegh, G. J. M.; Servais, T.; Streng, M.; Munnecke, A.; Vachard, D. (2009). A discussion and proposal concerning the use of the term Calcispheres. <em>Palaeontology.</em> 52(2): 343-348., available online at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2009.00854.x note: as Calcitarcha, however that assignment is only applicable to species other than the type. C. robusta, refer note [details] additional source Kaneva, N. A.; Ponomarenko, E. S.; Shevchuk, S. S. (2013). The problem of genetic interpretation of problematic Calcisphaera incertae sedis (for example of Upper Devonian deposits of the Timan-Pechora region) [in Russian]. <em>Bulletin of Institute of Geology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.</em> 12: 15-19. [details] additional source Mamet, B. (2006). Taxonomy of Viséan marine calcareous algae, Fernie, British Columbia (Canada). <em>Rivista Italiana de Stratigrafia e Paleontologia.</em> 112(3): 323-357., available online at https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/download/6345/6300/ [details] additional source Andrews, H. N. (1955). Index of Generic Names of Fossil Plants, 1820-1950. Geological Survey Bulletin 1013. United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 262 pp. , available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1013/report.pdf note: type species given (incorrectly) as C. laevis [details] additional source Peck, R. E.; Morales, G. A. (1966). The Devonian and Lower Mississippian charophytes of North America. <em>Micropaleontology.</em> 12(3): 303-324., available online at https://doi.org/10.2307/1484549 note: considers Miller's designation of C. robusta as type invalid, and removes this genus from Charophytes, however see note [details] source of synonymy Horn af Rantzien, H. (1956). An annotated check-list of genera of fossil Charophyta. <em>Micropaleontology.</em> 2(3): 243-256., available online at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1484179 [details] verified source for family Guiry, M. D.; Guiry, G. M. AlgaeBase (2021 version). , available online at https://www.algaebase.org/ [details] name verified source Farr, E. R.; Zijlstra, G. (eds). (1996-current). Index Nominum Genericorum (ING). A compilation of generic names published for organisms covered by the ICN: International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. [previously: organisms covered by the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature] (2007 version). , available online at https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/ [details] extant flag source Versteegh, G. J. M.; Servais, T.; Streng, M.; Munnecke, A.; Vachard, D. (2009). A discussion and proposal concerning the use of the term Calcispheres. <em>Palaeontology.</em> 52(2): 343-348., available online at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2009.00854.x [details] habitat flag source as per family [details] original description (of Calcisphaera J.W. Dawson, 1881 †) Dawson, J. W. (1881). Palaeontological notes. I. A new species of Piloceras. II. 2. Saccamina? (Calcisphaera) Eriana (an Erian rhizopod of uncertain affinities). III. New Devonian plants from the Bay de Chaleur. <em>The Canadian Naturalist and Quarterly Journal of Science, new series.</em> 10: 1-11., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7312375 page(s): 5 [details] Unreviewed
Descriptive info Middle Devonian; U.S.A. (Erie County, Ohio). (Index Nominum Genericorum) [details]Taxonomic remark This generic name is used in both Charophyta and Calcitarcha (a group of incertae sedis microfossils) in recent literature. Charophyta is technically correct, based on the lectotypification of the genus by Miller, 1889 using C. robusta, a charophyte gyrogonite (spore) now classified in the later genus Trochiliscus, so technically Calcisphaera (unless re-typified e.g. by IAPT decision) becomes an unused senior synonym of Trochiliscus, although it is not yet listed as such here. However other workers e.g. Horn af Rantzien, 1956 have recommended that Miller's type designation be "set aside", or simply treated as invalid (Peck & Morales, 1966) so that the later usage of C. laevis as type (by Andrews, 1955 et seq) can be employed meaning that Calcisphaera becomes a calcitarch as possibly originally intended by Williamson (C. laevis is the first species he discusses), and used by recent (algal) calcitarch workers, also by some foraminiferal ones who view Calcisphaera as the type of a foraminiferal family, Calcisphaeridae. The situation probably requires application to the IAPT for a ruling on whether or not a new type could or should be designated for the genus; for the present it remains a charophyte, as also stated in Index Nominum Genericorum and AlgaeBase (2026 versions). [details] |
