| Sinocylindra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossilized specimen of Sinocylindra | |
Scientific classification | |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Genus: | †Sinocylindra Chen and Erdtmann, 1991 |
Sinocylindra is an extinct genus ofmacroalgae that existed between theEdiacaran and MiddleCambrian periods. It is a part of the Chengjiang biota in theMaotianshan Shales inYunnan,China. Only two species,S. yunnanensis andS. linearis, are described.
Sinocylindra yunnanensis was a cylindrical macroalgae 0.2-0.35 mm wide, that could reach up to 20-40 mm long.[1] Its surface is smooth, and it was likely flexible, as specimens have been found coiled and curved.[2][3] It was previously thought by some thatS. yunnanensis might be aprokaryotic species in theSiphonophycus genus,[4] however due to elements of itsmorphology such as the size and length of the species, it was determined to most likely be aeukaryotic algae of a previously unknown genus.[1]S. yunnanensis lived roughly between 635-516 million years ago.[5]
Sinocylindra linearis, likeyunnanensis, was cylindrical in shape, with a diameter ranging from 0.3-2.0mm, and a length of 5.0-50 mm.[2] It was probably firmer and less flexible thanyunnanensis as some specimens found were almost completely straight.[2]
Sinocylindra yunnanensis was first described in 1991, found in the Upper Doushantuo shales at Chengjiang, in the Chinese province of Yunnan.[1] Since its discovery, a number of fossils across Southern China have been found, as well as a specimen in the Drumian Marjum formation inUtah, United States.[6]
Sinocylindra linearis was described by researchers in 2017 after being found in the Ediacaran Miaohemember in southern China,[7] where one hundred and twenty-eight specimens were found.[2] The namelinearis was given due to the straight, rigid nature of the species.
