Nannotax

Nannotax is an online reference database for calcareous nannoplankton, the group of marine microfossils represented by coccoliths produced by coccolithophores. It provides taxonomic information, literature references, images, and stratigraphic data to support identification, biostratigraphy, and correlation in paleontological and sedimentological research.

The database organizes taxa within a hierarchical framework and includes accepted names, synonyms, diagnostic features, and notes on taxonomic history. For each taxon, Nannotax typically offers descriptions, illustrated images or micrographs of coccoliths, and links to primary literature. It also presents stratigraphic ranges and geographic occurrence information when available, enabling users to infer ages and correlate sections.

Nannotax is designed for researchers, students, and teachers and is commonly used in academic settings to assist in the identification of fossil specimens and in teaching about nannofossil taxonomy and biostratigraphy. The platform emphasizes standardization and peer-reviewed sources, and its content is continually updated by curators and contributors from the micropaleontology community.

The project originated as a collaborative effort among researchers in micropaleontology and is hosted as an online resource to facilitate rapid access to curated data and imagery. It may be updated with new taxa, revised classifications, and additional images as the science progresses. Nannotax serves as a reference point alongside other paleontological databases and textbooks for the study of calcareous nannoplankton.