Dendroid multicellular thallophytes preserved in a Neoproterozoic black phosphorite in southern China

Du, W., Wang, X.L., Komiya, T., Zhao, R. & Wang, Y., April 2016. Dendroid multicellular thallophytes preserved in a Neoproterozoic black phosphorite in southern China. Alcheringa 40, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518.

A new form of dendroid multicellular thallophyte is documented in the Ediacaran Doushantuo phosphorite at Weng’an, Guizhou Province, southern China. The dendroid thallophytes have variable forms, possibly owing to heteromorphic variation. Many lateral branches extend from the upper portions of the main axes; the lateral branches bear terminal vegetative vesicles, reproductive vesicles, monosporangium-like discoidal vesicles and urn-shaped pseudoparenchymatous structures. The vegetative vesicles give rise to clavate pseudoparenchymatous structures, characterized by differentiation of the thallus medulla/cortex, which might represent an early stage of thallus development. An oogamous conceptacle arising from one carpogonial vesicle forms a highly specialized goblet-shaped conceptacle. The discovery of the new dendroid multicellular thallophytes provides not only the first fossil-based evidence of the morphological complexity and tissue differentiation in the Precambrian organisms but also insights into the life cycle of the Precambrian red algae.

Wei Du* duwei@ea.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp], School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, PR China; Xun Lian Wang wxl@cugb.edu.cn], School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, PR China; Tsuyoshi Komiya komiya@ea.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp], Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. Ran Zhao zhao_ran13@eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp], Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Yue Wang gzyuewang@126.com], School of Resources and Environments, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China. *Also affiliated with Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.