An Ediacaran trace-like body fossil of a Palaeopascichnus specimen from Oman under 3D micro-tomography.
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| Title: | An Ediacaran trace-like body fossil of a Palaeopascichnus specimen from Oman under 3D micro-tomography. |
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| Authors: | Pinto, André Jorge1 (AUTHOR) andrejor@ucm.es, Álvarez-Lloret, Pedro2 (AUTHOR) pedroalvarez@uniovi.es, Callegari, Ivan3 (AUTHOR) ivan.callegari@gutech.edu.om, Scharf, Andreas4 (AUTHOR) scharfa@squ.edu.om |
| Source: | Facies. Jul2025, Vol. 71 Issue 3, p1-12. 12p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Ediacaran fossils, *Morphology, *Three-dimensional imaging, *Phylogeny, *Fossils, *Trace fossils, *Taxonomy |
| Geographic Terms: | Oman |
| Abstract: | Palaeopascichnus is an Ediacaran organism, whose phylogenetic affiliation and functional anatomy are both shrouded in mystery. Different studies and assessments have interpreted this fossil as macrophytes or foraminifera-like protists. Currently ongoing discussions concerns the possible phylogenetic relation between Palaeopascichnus and modern xenophyophores; benthic organisms that built agglutinated tests. We present micro-XRD, SEM-EDS and three-dimensional microtomographic data on a possible Palaeopascichnus specimen from the Ediacaran Fara Formation, in Wadi Bani Awf, Jabal Akhdar, Oman. The unique preservation of this specimen as a full positive epirelief of drusy calcite growths represents a new taphotype for this organism, enabling a more accurate observation of chamber structure and better morphological characterization. The data gathered concerning both chamber´s dimensions and morphology does not point towards an affiliation with any known Paleopascichnus species, except for much smaller P. jiumenensis. Therefore, it is possible that this specimen represents a new, previously unknown species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
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| Abstract: | Palaeopascichnus is an Ediacaran organism, whose phylogenetic affiliation and functional anatomy are both shrouded in mystery. Different studies and assessments have interpreted this fossil as macrophytes or foraminifera-like protists. Currently ongoing discussions concerns the possible phylogenetic relation between Palaeopascichnus and modern xenophyophores; benthic organisms that built agglutinated tests. We present micro-XRD, SEM-EDS and three-dimensional microtomographic data on a possible Palaeopascichnus specimen from the Ediacaran Fara Formation, in Wadi Bani Awf, Jabal Akhdar, Oman. The unique preservation of this specimen as a full positive epirelief of drusy calcite growths represents a new taphotype for this organism, enabling a more accurate observation of chamber structure and better morphological characterization. The data gathered concerning both chamber´s dimensions and morphology does not point towards an affiliation with any known Paleopascichnus species, except for much smaller P. jiumenensis. Therefore, it is possible that this specimen represents a new, previously unknown species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 01729179 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10347-025-00705-5 |
