Large dasycladalean algae from Upper Jurassic limestone deposits of the Apuseni Mountains (Romania) — habitat and depositional environment

Abstract

Three species of dasycladalean algae are described: Petrascula piai Bachmayer, 1944, P. bursiformis (Etallon, 1859) and Steinmanniporella kapelensis (Sokač & Nikler, 1973). Two of them, Petrascula piai and Steinmanniporella kapelensis, are relatively seldom reported and consequently poorly known algae. They were found at two locations in the Apuseni Mountains: Sănduleşti quarry (Trascău Mountains) and Şerbota Hill (near Aştileu, Pădurea Craiului Mountains). The two species of Petrascula were essentially identified from sections of the stalk. Their study provides, especially for P. piai, useful supplementary data related to the morphology of the laterals and the structure of the stalk. Regarding Steinmanniporella kapelensis, Sănduleşti is only the second locality (after the type locality) where this alga is known to occur as numerous well preserved specimens. Microfacies and sedimentological data suggest that these algae were restricted to micro-environments within the external part of the carbonate platforms.