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Article: Maiaspora: a new miospore genus with enigmatic sculpture from the late Visean of European Russia

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 7 Issue 1 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 7
Part: 1
Publication Date: Febuary 2021
Page(s): 263 306
Author(s): Dmitriy A. Mamontov, Duncan McLean, Olga A. Orlova, and Olga A. Gavrilova
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1278
Addition Information

How to Cite

MAMONTOV, D.A., MCLEAN, D., ORLOVA, O.A., GAVRILOVA, O.A. 2021. . Papers in Palaeontology, 7, 1, 263-306. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1278

Author Information

  • Dmitriy A. Mamontov - Department of Palaeontology 119234 Faculty of Geology Lomonosov Moscow State University Leninskie gory 1 Moscow Russian Federation
  • Duncan McLean - MB Stratigraphy Limited 11 Clement Street S9 5EA Sheffield UK
  • Olga A. Orlova - Department of Palaeontology 119234 Faculty of Geology Lomonosov Moscow State University Leninskie gory 1 Moscow Russian Federation
  • Olga A. Gavrilova - Komarov Botanical Institute of the RAS 197376 Professor Popov Street 2 Saint Petersburg Russian Federation

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 08 March 2021
  • Manuscript Accepted: 19 March 2019
  • Manuscript Received: 31 August 2018

Funded By

Russian Foundation for Basic Research

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

A new miospore genus, Maiaspora, is described from the upper Visean (middle Mississippian) of the southern wing of Moscow Syneclise (European Russia). Applying a combination of methods (optical light microscopy (LM), scanning‐electron microscopy, confocal laser microscopy (CLSM) and image analysis) to the same individual miospore specimens revealed a remarkable sculptural type for which we propose the new term ‘metareticuloid’. Metareticuloid sculpture is defined as a complex arrangement of muri with apiculate elements, polygonal lumina and circular scrobiculae at the base of the lumina. The discovery of fossil spores with metareticuloid sculpture allows the recognition of clear morphological differences between microreticulate and foveolate sculptures, which palynologists have historically had difficulty in separating. Virtual cross‐sections provided by CLSM show that miospores with metareticuloid sculpture display perfectly preserved, funnel‐shaped tunnels (like a gallery of cave stalactites) in the deep exospore. In contrast, miospores with microreticulate or reticulate and partly vermiculate sculpture lack such vertical tunnels (termed scrobiculae). The morphology of Maiaspora gen. nov. is considered in comparison with Microreticulatisporites (Knox non sensu Potonié & Kremp) Bhardwaj emended Oshurkova, Pseudoreticulatispora Bharadwaj & Srivastava emended Price & Foster, Vadaszisporites (Deák & Combaz) emended Juhász, Foveosporites Balme, Foveotriletes van der Hammen ex Potonié, Garotriletes Singh & Singh, Assamiasporites Mehrota & Sah, and Margotriletes Mehrota & Sah. The morphological conceptions of Microreticulatisporites and Foveotriletes are reinterpreted by numerical typification. The adaptative significance of metareticuloid sculpture is discussed in relation to modern and fossil spores, and in terms of harmomegathic mechanisms of angiosperm pollen.

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