''Sinocylindra'' is an extinct genus of macroalgae that existed between the

Ediacaran The Ediacaran ( ) is a geological period of the Neoproterozoic geologic era, Era that spans 96 million years from the end of the Cryogenian Period at 635 Million years ago, Mya to the beginning of the Cambrian Period at 538.8 Mya. It is the last ...

and Middle Cambrian periods. It is a part of the Chengjiang biota in the

Maotianshan Shales The Maotianshan Shales () are a series of Early Cambrian sedimentary deposits in the Chiungchussu Formation or Heilinpu Formation, famous for their '' Konservat Lagerstätten'', deposits known for the exceptional preservation of fossilized orga ...

Yunnan Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. Only two species, ''S. yunnanensis'' and ''S. linearis'', are described.

Species

''Sinocylindra yunnanensis'' was a cylindrical macroalgae 0.2-0.35 mm wide, that could reach up to 20-40 mm long. Its surface is smooth, and it was likely flexible, as specimens have been found coiled and curved. It was previously thought by some that ''S. yunnanensis'' might be a prokaryotic species in the ''Siphonophycus'' genus, 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 The eukaryotes ( ) constitute the Domain (biology), domain of Eukaryota or Eukarya, organisms whose Cell (biology), cells have a membrane-bound cell nucleus, nucleus. All animals, plants, Fungus, fungi, seaweeds, and many unicellular organisms ...

algae of a previously unknown genus. ''S. yunnanensis'' lived roughly between 635-516 million years ago. ''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. It was probably firmer and less flexible than ''yunnanensis'' as some specimens found were almost completely straight.

Discovery

''Sinocylindra yunnanensis'' was first described in 1991, found in the Upper Doushantuo shales at Chengjiang, in the Chinese province of Yunnan. 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 Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

, United States. ''Sinocylindra linearis'' was described by researchers in 2017 after being found in the Ediacaran Miaohe

member Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set * In object-oriented programming, a member of a class ** Field (computer science), entries in ...

in southern China, where one hundred and twenty-eight specimens were found. The name ''linearis'' was given due to the straight, rigid nature of the species.

References

Works cited

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q130548430 Maotianshan shales fossils Ediacaran Asia Ediacaran life Fossil taxa described in 1991 Chlorophyta Fossil algae Chlorophyta genera

Species

Discovery

See also

References

Works cited