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Biological and Molecular Geochemical Evidence for Dinoflagellate Ancestors in the Upper Sinian‐Cambrian
Author(s) -
Shuichang ZHANG,
MOLDOWAN J. Mike,
Lizeng BIAN,
Baomin ZHANG,
Liping ZHANG
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2000.tb00490.x
Subject(s) - dinoflagellate , paleontology , geology , acritarch , structural basin , oceanography
Dinoflagellates are single celled organisms that reflect the ecological conditions in modern oceans and lakes. Their earliest undisputed fossil record suggests that dinoflagellates originated from the Middle Triassic (c. 240 Ma ago). However, the presence of molecular biomarkers (dinosterane, 4α‐methyl‐24‐ethylcholestane and triaromatic dinosteroids) in rock extracts and coccoid dinoflagellate fossils from the upper Sinian to Cambrian of the Tarim basin confirms the hypothesis that dinoflagellates have an ancient origin, and predate the oldest undisputed dinoflagellate fossils at least by 300 Ma, as early as the late Sinian‐Cambrian.