A microfossil with suggested affinities to the Peronosporomycetes (Oomycota) from the Carboniferous (c. 330 Ma) of France

Harper, Carla J.; Krings, Michael; Galtier, Jean and Taylor, Thomas N. (2016): A microfossil with suggested affinities to the Peronosporomycetes (Oomycota) from the Carboniferous (c. 330 Ma) of France. In: Nova Hedwigia, Vol. 103, No. 3-4: pp. 315-326

Abstract

Combresomyces cornifer is a conspicuous spheroidal microfossil (<40 mu m diam.) that occurs in Mississippian (similar to 330 Ma) chert from France and is characterized by a prominent surface ornament of antler-like extensions positioned on hollow, conical or column-like wall papillations. The fossil has been interpreted as a peronosporomycete oogonium based on appressed paragynous antheridia. Here we report Annelaurea excornis nov. gen. et sp., a new fossil from the French Mississippian chert that resembles C. cornifer in overall morphology, but is distinctly thicker-walled and lacks the antler-like extensions. Moreover, size and shape of the papillations vary greatly within one specimen. This discovery suggests that by the Carboniferous the peronosporomycetes were already a morphologically diverse group.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Geosciences > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences and geology
• ISSN: 0029-5035
• Language: English