Hiemalora是一类广为分布的埃迪卡拉(Ediacaran)纪(震旦纪)圆盘状印痕化石,周围具流苏状或触须状突起,曾被解释为似水母动物,或某种叶状生物的固着器官,但以往罕见其与叶状生物体共同保存.本文报道了华南贵州震旦纪陡山沱组一类保存完好丰富的被确认为藻类的碳膜化石——革辛娜藻Gesinella,具有完整的须状固着构造.这一须状构造的形态和大小与Hiemalora非常相似,致密加厚的基部及其周围辐射状分布的丝状或须根状构造,可以分别和后者的中央盘以及周缘突起的“触须”相比较.陡山沱组的这一类碳膜化石同时保存有明显巨大的形同藻类的叶片和固着器,为研究埃迪卡拉生物群的底栖印痕化石提供了新的认识,即:盘状的Hiemalora可能是多细胞藻类的固着器官,而不一定是最初解释的似水母动物或其它叶状体生物的固着构造.不过,证实这一点尚需更进一步地研究埃迪卡拉纪生物的保存方式和埋藏环境.
Hiemalora,one of the most widely reported Ediacaran fossils,generally interpreted either as a medusoid or a holdfast of a frond-like organism,has a fringed disc,not (previously) found with fronds attached.This paper presents one of the well-preserved carbonaceous compressions from the Doushantuo Formation,Guizhou,South China——the abundant,presumed alga,G esinella,with a complete rhizoid holdfast structure.The rhizoid base of this taxon is quite similar to Hiemalora in shape and size.The thickening and hyperplasia base,and external radiating filament—rhizoids,in Gesinella can be compared respectively with the central disc and the surrounding radial tentacle-like elements in Hiemalora.As the Ediacaran macroscopic carbonaceous compressions with the largest thallus,these new specimens of Doushantuo Gesinella offer insights into the benthic Ediacaran biota with casts and molds in the ascendant:the disc-shaped Hiemalora might be holdfast discs of multicellular algae,rather than a medusoid organism or an attachment of other frond-like life.This new association will arouse further research on the preservation style and the taphonomical environment of Ediacaran organisms.