Thallophycoides

Thallophycoides Temporal range: Ediacaran ~635–551  Ma [1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Archaeplastida
Division:	Rhodophyta
Total group:	Florideophyceae
Genus:	† Thallophycoides Zhang & Yuan, 1992
Species
T. phloeatusZhang & Yuan, 1992

Thallophycoides is an undifferentiated, globular, non-mineralized alga from the Ediacaran period, found within the Doushantuo Formation in 1992. ^{[2] [3]}

Description

Thallophycoides phloeatus is a globular alga growing up to 800–1,500 μm (0.03–0.06 in) in length, which lacks any notable cell or thallus differentiation. Due to this, it has been postured to be either an early or stem group florideophyte red algae. ^{[3] [4]} The cells are spheroidal to ellipsoidal in shape, and are tightly packed together. ^[4]

Thallophycoides was most likely a benthic alga, inferred from how its lobate protrusions and tissues grew. ^[4]

See also

• Thallophyca
• Ediacaran biota

References

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.