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Cryptospores from the Shipai Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of Yichang, southern China.

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Title: Cryptospores from the Shipai Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of Yichang, southern China.
Authors: Wang, Kai1 (AUTHOR), Xu, Hong-He1 (AUTHOR) hhxu@nigpas.ac.cn, Yin, Lei-Ming1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Palynology. May2026, Vol. 50 Issue 2, p1-12. 12p.
Subjects: Spores, Plant evolution, Geological formations, Fossil microorganisms, Cambrian Period, Paleogeography
Geographic Terms: China
Abstract: The Cambrian acts as a crucial period for the transition from aquatic algae to land plants. A number of spore-like microfossils of different types, though scarcely reported, illuminate possibilities for unraveling this cryptic history of plant evolution. Here, we recognize a palynomorph assemblage from the Shipai Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of Yichang, southern China. Newly discovered palynomorphs are dominated by spore-like microfossils, which can be grouped into cryptospores sensu Strother and Beck. Three taxa, Adinosporus bullatus, A. geminus and A. voluminosus, are identified. In terms of cell size, wall thickness, fold morphology, cell configuration and wall structure, the morphological disparity supports the identifications of these microfossils. In addition, a small number of filaments have also been found in the Shipai Formation. Sphaeromorphs only occur as a leiosphaerid specimen. No acanthomorphs are encountered in the collection. The occurrence of abundant spore-like microfossils here supports that the Shipai Formation was deposited in a shoreland environment, and during the Shipai depositional period, there was an ancient terrain in the vicinity serving as a source of terrestrial organic matter. The Shipai palynomorphs reveal a previously unrecognized record from southern China and contribute an example of early occurrences of spore-like microfossils. This discovery extends the known paleogeographic distribution of spore-like microfossils and ultimately helps enrich the fossil record of the origin of land plants and its evolutionary significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:The Cambrian acts as a crucial period for the transition from aquatic algae to land plants. A number of spore-like microfossils of different types, though scarcely reported, illuminate possibilities for unraveling this cryptic history of plant evolution. Here, we recognize a palynomorph assemblage from the Shipai Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) of Yichang, southern China. Newly discovered palynomorphs are dominated by spore-like microfossils, which can be grouped into cryptospores sensu Strother and Beck. Three taxa, Adinosporus bullatus, A. geminus and A. voluminosus, are identified. In terms of cell size, wall thickness, fold morphology, cell configuration and wall structure, the morphological disparity supports the identifications of these microfossils. In addition, a small number of filaments have also been found in the Shipai Formation. Sphaeromorphs only occur as a leiosphaerid specimen. No acanthomorphs are encountered in the collection. The occurrence of abundant spore-like microfossils here supports that the Shipai Formation was deposited in a shoreland environment, and during the Shipai depositional period, there was an ancient terrain in the vicinity serving as a source of terrestrial organic matter. The Shipai palynomorphs reveal a previously unrecognized record from southern China and contribute an example of early occurrences of spore-like microfossils. This discovery extends the known paleogeographic distribution of spore-like microfossils and ultimately helps enrich the fossil record of the origin of land plants and its evolutionary significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01916122
DOI:10.1080/01916122.2025.2589185