Fuxianospira gyrata
| Fuxianospira gyrata Temporal range:
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| Fossil of Fuxianospira gyrata in Yuxi Museum | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Fuxianospira
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| Species: | F. gyrata
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| Binomial name | |
| Fuxianospira gyrata Chen & Zhou, 1997
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Fuxianospira gyrata is a Cambrian macroalgae found in the Chengjiang lagerstätte.[1] The filaments, preserved in clustered, helicoid groups, are thread-like, plain, and branchless.[1] With their brown and smooth appearance, these structural characteristics bear a resemblance to modern brown algae.[2] Only a limited number of algal species have been identified in the Chengjiang biota, indicating that the diversity within the general algal population may have been relatively low.[1] It is hypothesized that macroalgae may constitute the most fundamental component of the Chengjiang biota's food chain.[1]
It is also theorised that Fuxianospira gyrata, among other Chengjiang algae, is actually a coprolite.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Hou, Xianguang; Bergström, Jan (2003-03-31). "The Chengjiang fauna — the oldest preserved animal community". Paleontological Research. 7 (1): 55–70. doi:10.2517/prpsj.7.55. ISSN 1342-8144. S2CID 129110862.
- ^ a b Hou, Xian‐guang; Siveter, David J.; Siveter, Derek J.; Aldridge, Richard J.; Cong, Pei‐yun; Gabbott, Sarah E.; Ma, Xiao‐ya; Purnell, Mark A.; Williams, Mark (2017-03-11). "Algae". The Cambrian Fossils of Chengjiang, China: The Flowering of Early Animal Life (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. pp. 39–47. doi:10.1002/9781118896372.ch8. ISBN 978-1-118-89637-2.