''Bangiomorpha pubescens'' is a species of

red algae Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), make up one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta comprises one of the largest Phylum, phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 recognized species within over 900 Genus, genera amidst ongoing taxon ...

in the order Bangiales. It is the first known sexually reproducing organism. A multicellular fossil of ''Bangiomorpha pubescens'' was recovered from the Hunting Formation in Somerset Island,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

that strongly resembles the modern red alga '' Bangia'' despite occurring in rocks dating to , during the

Stenian The Stenian Period ( , from , meaning "narrow") is the final geologic period in the Mesoproterozoic Era and lasted from Mya to Mya (million years ago). Instead of being based on stratigraphy, these dates are defined chronometrically. The name ...

period. This species is the oldest example of an organism belonging to an extant phylum. The fossil includes differentiated reproductive cells that are the oldest evidence of sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction increased genetic variation, which led to an increased rate of evolution and the diversification of eukaryotes.

References

Bangiophyceae Red algae genera Fossil taxa described in 2000 Monotypic algae genera Mesoproterozoic {{Rhodophyta-stub