Thallophyca
| Thallophyca | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Corallinales |
| Stem group: | Corallinaceae |
| Genus: | †Thallophyca Zhang, 1989 |
| Type species | |
| †Thallophyca ramosa Zhang, 1989
| |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Thallophyca is a non-mineralized branching alga from the Ediacaran period of China. Two distinct species are known, T. ramosa and T. corrugata.
Discovery
Fossil material of Thallophyca was found in the Doushantuo Formation, Guizhou Province of South China and formally described in 1989.[2]
Etymology
The generic name Thallophyca derives from a truncated Greek word Thallus, commonly used for algae; and phyc, to mean "seaweed".[2]
The specific name of T. ramosa derives directly from the Latin word of the same spelling, ramosa, to mean "branched", in reference to the appearance of its branching thallus.[2] The specific name of T. corrugata derives directly from the Latin words of the same spelling, corrugata, to mean "wrinkly", in reference to the wrinkly appearance of the thallus. And the specific name of T. phylloformis derives from the Greek word phyllo, to mean "leaf"; and the Latin suffix word -formis, to mean "shape", in reference to the leaf-like shape of its thallus.[3]
Description
Thallophyca are ellipsoidal alga growing up to 3.5 mm (0.14 in) in height and 20 mm (0.8 in) in width, with the outer portions of their thallus being enlarged, with notable differentiation into an outer cortex and an inner medulla. [4][5] The outer cells of the cortex are slightly elongated and spheroidal to polyhedral in shape, and oriented along the thallus, meanwhile the inner cells of the medulla diverge outwards in rows.[5] These inners cells are similar to pseudoparenchyma, due to their tightly packed nature.[5] Some specimens of Thallophyca also show possible reproductive cells within the thallus in the form of clustered islands of larger cells which may be cystocarps, sorus-like structures, and cavities, which are suggested to be similar to conceptacles.[4]
Due to the overall appearance of Thallophyca, it has been compared to extant forms of Coralline algae, and as such has been postured to be an early stem group corallinalean red alga.[4][5] It was also most likely a benthic alga, inferred from how its lobate protrusions and tissues grew, which can be seen in the large lobes of Thallophyca specimens, which radiate from a centre point.[5]
Taxonomy
To date, Thallophyca contains three valid species, and one invalid species, which are as follows:
| Species | Authority | Type locality | Notes | Refs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thallophyca ramosa | Zhang (1989) | Doushantuo Formation, South China | valid | Type species | [2] |
| Thallophyca simplicia | Zhang (1989) | Doushantuo Formation, South China | invalid | Synonym of T. ramosa. | [2][5] |
| Thallophyca corrugata | Zhang & Yuan (1992) | Doushantuo Formation, South China | valid | [3] | |
| Thallophyca phylloformis | Zhang & Yuan (1992) | Doushantuo Formation, South China | valid | [3] |
See also
References
- ^ Jiang, G.; Shi, X.; Zhang, S.; Wang, Y.; Xiao, S. (2011). "Stratigraphy and paleogeography of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (ca. 635-551 Ma) in South China". Gondwana Research. 19 (4): 831–849. Bibcode:2011GondR..19..831J. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2011.01.006.
- ^ a b c d e f g Zhang, Yun (1989). "Multicellular thallophytes with differentiated tissues from Late Proterozoic phosphate rocks of South China". Lethaia. 22 (2): 113–132. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1989.tb01674.x.
- ^ a b c d e Yun, Zhang; Xun‐Lal, Yuan (January 1992). "New data on multicellular thallophytes and fragments of cellular tissues from Late Proterozoic phosphate rocks, South China". Lethaia. 25 (1): 1–18. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1992.tb01788.x.
- ^ a b c Xiao, S.; Knoll, A. H.; Yuan, X.; Pueschel, C. M. (2004). "Phosphatized multicellular algae in the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation, China, and the early evolution of florideophyte red algae". American Journal of Botany. 91 (2): 214–227. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.2.214. PMID 21653378.
- ^ a b c d e f Shang, Xiaodong; Liu, Pengju (January 2022). "Diverse multicellular algae from the early Ediacaran Doushantuo chert nodules and their palaeoecological implications". Precambrian Research. 368 106508. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2021.106508.
Content Disclaimer
Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.
- The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
- There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
- It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
- Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
- Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.