Abstract
Among living green algae assigned to the order Chlorococcales and order Zygnematales certain species develop resistant outer organic walls and/or cysts during their life cycles; as such they have the potential to become fossils. Based on morphology, comparison between living algae and microfossil remains are made with varying degrees of confidence, and a possible evolutionary pathway for certain chlorococcalean coenobial families is suggested. Twelve genera are reviewed from earliest to latest Triassic palynological assemblages from northwestern Australia; and the following taxa are described as new: Plaesiodictyon mosellanum ssp. symmetricum ssp. nov.; Plaesiodictyon mosellanum ssp. variabile ssp. nov.; Plaesiodictyon decussatus sp. nov.; Plaesiodictyon decussatus ssp. decussatus ssp. nov.; Plaesiodictyon decussatus ssp. tetracornuta ssp. nov.; Tetraporina protrusa sp. nov.; Crucigeniella? torques sp. nov.; and Paleoraphidia akestra gen. et sp. nov. (type). Their suggested natural affinities are useful in palaeoenvironmental interpretations of mostly freshwater or low-salinity habitats.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
