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Protovirgularia

Classification

    Phylum:  
Trace Fossils and Problematica
    Class:  
Trace Fossils
    Formal Genus Name and Reference:  
Protovirgularia M'COY, 1850, p. 272
    Type Species:  
*P. dishotoma (=?Cladograpsus nereitarum Richter, 1853, p. 450; Triplograpsus nereitarum RICHTER, 1871, p. 251), M


Images

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Fig. 61,2. P. nereitarum (RICHTER), M.Dev. ("Nereiten-Sehiefer") , Ger.(Thuringia); 2a,b, X2.25 (Volk, 1961).


Synonyms

Provirgularia


Geographic Distribution

Ord., Eng., L.Dev.-M.Dev., Eu.(Ger.), L.Carb. (Kulm), Eu.(Ger.)


Age Range

    Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:  
Ord.
    Beginning International Stage:  
Tremadocian
    Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:  
0
    Beginning Date:  
486.85
    Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:  
L.Carb.(Kulm)
    Ending International Stage:  
Serpukhovian
    Fraction Up In Ending Stage:  
100
    Ending Date:  
323.4


Description

Small keel-like trail, a few mm. wide, mostly straight or slightly curved, may branch dichotomously; consisting of an elevated median line and lateral wedge-shaped appendages, alternating on both sides. [Regarded by M'COY as octocoral because of its similarity to the Recent octocoral Virgularia; as late as 1952 considered an octocoral ineertae sedis by ALLOITEAU (1952, p. 415); ascribed to graptolites by RICHTER (1853a, 1871); undoubtedly a trail as recognized by NATHORST (1881a, p. 85), belonging to " group" lehnia spieea RUDOLF RICHTER (1941, p. 229); for detailed discussion see HANTZSCHEL, (1958, p. 84) and VOLK (1961); producing animal unknown.]




References



Museum or Author Information