Actiniscus pentasterias, an endoskeletal siliceous dinoflagellates from Southern Ocean sediments

Abstract

Siliceous spicules of endoskeletal dinoflagellates constitute a very small fraction of siliceous microfossil assemblage from Southern Ocean. They are represented by a solitary genus Actiniscus with its type species A. pentasterias. They are bilaterally symmetrical. It is useful in deriving palaeoecological interpretations. Their association with age diagnostic calcareous nannofossil blooms along-with reworked Palaeogene nannofossils suggest transport of older age plankton laden current from close proximity.