Sinocylindra
| Sinocylindra Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| Fossilized specimen of S. yunnanensis | |
Scientific classification 
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| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Genus: | †Sinocylindra Chen and Erdtmann, 1991 |
Sinocylindra is an extinct genus of macroalgae that existed between the Ediacaran and Middle Cambrian periods. It is a part of the Chengjiang biota in the Maotianshan Shales in Yunnan, China. Only two species, S. yunnanensis and S. linearis, are described.
Species
[edit]Sinocylindra yunnanensis was a cylindrical macroalgae 0.2-0.35 mm wide, that could reach up to 20-40 mm long.[1] Its surface is smooth, and it was likely flexible, as specimens have been found coiled and curved.[2][3] It was previously thought by some that S. yunnanensis might be a prokaryotic species in the Siphonophycus genus,[4] however due to elements of its morphology such as the size and length of the species, it was determined to most likely be a eukaryotic algae of a previously unknown genus.[1] S. yunnanensis lived roughly between 635-516 million years ago.[5]
Sinocylindra linearis, like yunnanensis, was cylindrical in shape, with a diameter ranging from 0.3-2.0mm, and a length of 5.0-50 mm.[2] It was probably firmer and less flexible than yunnanensis as some specimens found were almost completely straight.[2]
Discovery
[edit]Sinocylindra yunnanensis was first discovered in 1991 in the Upper Doushantuo shales at Chengjiang, in the Chinese province of Yunnan.[1] Since its discovery, a number of fossils across Southern China have been found, as well as a specimen in the Drumian Marjum formation in Utah, United States.[6]
Sinocylindra linearis was discovered by researchers in 2017 in the Ediacaran Miaohe member in southern China,[7] where one hundred and twenty-eight specimens were found.[2] The name linearis was given due to the straight, rigid nature of the species.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Xiao et al. 2002, p. 368.
- ^ a b c d Ye et al. 2019, p. 41.
- ^ Ye et al. 2019, p. 30.
- ^ Xiao et al. 2002, p. 349.
- ^ "Sinocylindra". Mindat.org. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ Wang et al. 2022, p. 9.
- ^ Ye et al. 2019, p. 1.
Works cited
[edit]- Wang, Ping-Li; LoDuca, Steven T.; Wu, Meng-Yin; Tang, Yong-Gang; Sun, Zhi-Xin (2022). "Benthic primary producers in exceptionally preserved Cambrian biotas of North China". Palaeoworld. 31 (1). doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2021.01.009.
- Xiao, Shuhai; Yuan, Xunlai; Steiner, Michael; Knoll, Andrew H. (March 2002). "Macroscopic carbonaceous compressions in a terminal Proterozoic shale: A systematic reassessment of the Miaohe biota, south China". Journal of Paleontology. 76 (2). Bibcode:2002JPal...76..347X. doi:10.1666/0022-3360(2002)076<0347:MCCIAT>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0022-3360.
- Ye, Qin; Tong, Jinnan; An, Zhihui; Hu, Jun; Tian, Li; Guan, Kaiping; Xiao, Shuhai (2019-02-01). "A systematic description of new macrofossil material from the upper Ediacaran Miaohe Member in South China". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 17 (3). Bibcode:2019JSPal..17..183Y. doi:10.1080/14772019.2017.1404499. ISSN 1477-2019.