Tubes or cell sheet? A 3-D reconstruction of Halysis Høeg, 1932, from the Upper Ordovician of South China

Frisch K, Munnecke A, Schulbert C, Zhang Y (2012)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Facies Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 59

Pages Range: 113-132

Journal Issue: 59

URI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10347-012-0329-x

DOI: 10.1007/s10347-012-0329-x

Abstract

Halysis is a microfossil found in Ordovician to Devonian shallow-marine carbonates. Up to now, it is only known from thin-sections, and therefore its three-dimensional shape and its systematic position are controversial. Halysis is described as a chain-like microfossil with a shape of the single “chain links” ranging from circular to rounded rectangular. Given that Halysis commonly co-occurs with calcareous algae, it is assumed to also be an alga. Interpretations of the anatomy propose a filiform or tubiform shape. Even a unistratose sheet of cells has been discussed. Since Halysis is comparatively rare, its shape has not been resolved up to now. For the present study, 52 out of several hundred specimens from an Upper Ordovician shallow-water limestone of South China have been investigated in detail, which for the first time offers the opportunity to analyze a great number of sections through Halysis. A three-dimensional computer model of Halysis has been constructed in order to set up planes sectioning the model. These simulated sections have been compared to those from Halysis in thin-sections. The results show that Halysis represents a microfossil with a morphology consisting of parallel juxtaposed, partly branching tubes. A single sheet of cells, which was recently proposed as shape of Halysis, can clearly be excluded.

Authors with CRIS profile

Axel Munnecke Professur für Paläontologie (Schwerpunkt Faziesanalyse) Christian Schulbert Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt

Involved external institutions

Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main DE Germany (DE) National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences / 中国科学院国家天文台 (NAOC) CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Frisch, K., Munnecke, A., Schulbert, C., & Zhang, Y. (2012). Tubes or cell sheet? A 3-D reconstruction of Halysis Høeg, 1932, from the Upper Ordovician of South China. Facies, 59(59), 113-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-012-0329-x

MLA:

Frisch, Konstantin, et al. "Tubes or cell sheet? A 3-D reconstruction of Halysis Høeg, 1932, from the Upper Ordovician of South China." Facies 59.59 (2012): 113-132.

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