Description of Emiliania

Coccolithophorids, with non-motile heterococcolith-bearing and motile naked phases, motile phase with 2 flagella, but lacking a haptonema, and covered by a single layer of organic scales, non-motile phase covered by 1 or more layers of interlocking placoliths (composed of two shields of subhorizontal elements connected by a short tube), but lacking underlying organic scales or base-plate scales. Distal shield elements T-shaped, those of the proximal shield similar or flattened into blades, marine, planktonic.