Athena Review Image Archive ™
Oscillatoriopsis and other Precambrian cyanobacteria
Segmented bacteria fossils from Bitter Springs (after Taylor et al. 2009 and Schopf 1968 )
Oscillatoriopsis. Filoconstricosus, and Cephalophytarion were three fossil genera of Late Precambrian cyanobacteria found at Bitter Springs, Australia dating from 850 mya. Various parallels with current bacterial species can be seen in the fossil deposits in chert and quartzite deposits formations at Bitter Springs (Schopf 1968).
These Late Proterozoic deposits are rich in fossils of certain forms of segmented bacteria, including Filiconstricosus (B in figure), Cephalophytarion grande (C), and Oscillatoripsis sp. (D), Some are very close in form to the present day species Oscillatoria amena (A in figure), a filamentous cyanobacterium, named for its oscillating movement in seeking light sources.
References:
Schopf, J.W. 1968. Microflora of the Bitter Springs Formation, Late Precambrian, Central Australia. Journal of Paleontology 42(3), pp. 651-688.
Taylor, E.L., T.N. Taylor, and M. Krings 2009. Paleobotany: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants. New York, Academic Press.
Copyright © 1996-2020 Rust Family Foundation (All Rights Reserved).