Noelia uenverdii Varol, 2023
In honour of renowned nannofossil specialist Professor Dr Denise Noël, France.
A circular to elliptical coccolith comprising a nonbirefringent distal shield, an appressed proximal shield and a broad tube cycle that protrudes distally.
A similar number of segments constructing the distal shield and the tube cycle varies from 24 to 50. The narrow appressed proximal is about half as wide as the distal shield. The narrowest point of the central area lies at the boundary between the tube cycle and the proximal shield and corresponds to the sharp tapering inner end of the shield. The combination of the tube cycle and the appressed proximal shield creates an asymmetrical X-shape structure in the side view (Plate 10, Figs. 14,18; Plate 11, Figs. 2,6; Plate 12, Figs. 14, 18 in Varol, 2023). The diameter of the broad tube cycle is about twice the width of the shield and constantly protrudes distally above the distal shield.
Optical properties: In cross-polarised light, when using the gypsum plate, the blue sector corresponds to the horizontal axis on the distal side (Plate 11, Fig. 10 in Varol, 2023). In contrast, the blue sector corresponds to the vertical axis on the proximal side (Plate 11, Fig. 12 in Varol, 2023). Noelia displays dextrogyre extinction lines distally (Plate 13, Figs. 17–18 in Varol, 2023) and laevogyre extinction lines proximally (Plate 13, Fig. 19–20 in Varol, 2023).
Noelia currently includes three species: Noelia kolona, Noelia mahaniae, and Noelia uenverdii. The subcircular shape and the elliptical central area of Noelia mahaniae distinguish it from Noelia kolona and Noelia uenverdii. The circular Noelia kolona and Noelia uenverdii differ by the presence or absence of a central opening. (i.e., Noelia kolona lacks a central opening, whereas Noelia uenverdii possesses a narrow central opening).
Noelia differs from Davidbukrya, Carlamuelleria, Markalius and Senelia by having a distinctly protruding tube cycle above the distal shield. Noelia is further distinguished from Davidbukrya, Markalius and Carlamuelleria by having an appressed proximal shield. Davidbukrya has no shield, Carlamuelleria has a vestigial diminutive proximal shield, and Markalius has a spaced proximal shield with an acute inclination angle.
Noelia differs from Mauriceblackia and circular Coccolithus by having an appressed proximal shield. In Mauriceblackia and circular Coccolithus, the proximal shield is a spaced proximal shield. Because Noelia possesses a protruding tube cycle, it may be mistaken for Caycedoa Bowman and Varol (2021), but the latter has no proximal shield.
Bowman, A. R. & Varol, O. 2021. A Taxonomic Revision of Heliolithaceae - Applications in Resolving the Problematic Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy of the Paleocene. In: M. Montenary, M. (Ed.). Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Stratigraphy and timescales. 6: 43-223.
Varol, O. 2023. New paleocene calcareous nannofossils: Carlamuelleria, Davidbukrya, Mauriceblackia, Noelia and Senelia. Marine Micropaleontology. 180: 1-41.