Curviacus
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2023) |
Curviacus is a genus of Ediacaran organism of uncertain lineage that displays a modular body plan consisting of crescent shaped chambers. It contains a single species, Curviacus ediacaranus.
Etymology[edit]
The genus name Curviacus references the shape of the crescent chambers; coming from Latin curvus meaning curved and acus meaning needle.[1]
Phylogeny[edit]
The phylogeny of this fossil is not yet known. Some scientists believe the genus to be a coralline algal or fungal stem group.[1]
Occurrence[edit]
C. ediacaranus is from the late ediacaran. The fossil C. ediacaranus has been found in the Shibantan member of the Denying Formation.[1] The Sibantan member is the bituminous limestone section of the formation.[2] It is unusual for ediacaran biota to be preserved in limestone. As such, C. ediacaranus is the only Palaeopascichnus fossil to be reported from carbonate rock rather than siliclastic rock. [1] This special type of fossilization allows for 3 dimensional analysis. [1]
Description[edit]
These fossils occur on bituminous limestone on the bedding surface. The fossilized specimen has calcispar walls with the inner chambers filled with micrite. [1] The walls are raised because the calcispar does not erode as easily. C. ediacaranus is a slightly oblong macrofossil that ranges from 5-14 cm in length. It is charichtaridzed by its curved or crescent shaped chambers that occur arranged in a series with the chambers sharing walls. All of the chambers are convex in the same direction. Each chamber is narrow ranging ~1-3mm in width. [1] Chamber length can be consistent or inconsistent. Inconsistencies can give a false impression of branching. [1] Additionally, the walls of the chambers sometimes converge laterally.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shen, B.; Xiao, S.; Zhou, C.; Dong, L.; Chang, J.; Chen, Z. (2017). "A new modular palaeopascichnid fossil Curviacus ediacaranus new genus and species from the Ediacaran Dengying Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area of South China". Geological Magazine. 154 (6): 1257–1268. Bibcode:2017GeoM..154.1257S. doi:10.1017/S001675681700036X. S2CID 131980880.
- ^ Zhou, Chuanming; Xiao, Shuhai (2006). "Ediacaran .δ13C chemostratigraphy of South China". Chemical Geology. 237 (1–2): 89–108. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2006.06.021.