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Article: Unique preservation of siliceous dinoflagellate motile cells from the Oligocene fossil Lagerstätte of Sieblos, Germany

Palaeontology - Vol. 63 Part 2 - Cover Image
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 63
Part: 2
Publication Date: March 2020
Page(s): 331 348
Author(s): Ian C. Harding
Addition Information

How to Cite

HARDING, I.C. 2020. . Palaeontology, 63, 2, 331-348. DOI: /doi/10.1111/pala.12461

Author Information

  • Ian C. Harding - School of Ocean & Earth Science University of Southampton National Oceanography Centre Southampton European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH UK

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 27 February 2020
  • Manuscript Accepted: 23 September 2019
  • Manuscript Received: 19 May 2019

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

The Triassic to Recent fossil record of the dinoflagellates is represented overwhelmingly by geologically resistant, organic‐walled, non‐motile resting cysts; such cysts are formed following the sexual phase in the life cycle. Very few confirmed records exist of the motile stage being preserved in the fossil record. This paper reports the occurrence of two very unusual dinoflagellate taphofacies, one developed in bituminous shales and the other in micrites, from the Oligocene fossil Lagerstätte at Sieblos, Hesse, Germany. A new dinoflagellate taxon, Sieblososphaera martini sp. nov. has been identified through analysis of dissociated skeletal elements in the bituminous shales and external moulds and casts in the micrites. The unique preservation of these fossils confirms them not only as primary biogenically silicified motile thecate cells, but also indicates that there was a much greater range of tabulation present within the subfamily Lithoperidiniaceae than has hitherto been recognized.

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