Germinosphaera bispinosa

Overview

Germinosphaera bispinosa is a microfossil recognized by a round vesicle and long tubular processes. Tiny traces difficult to see with the naked eye reveal the forms of very ancient life.^[1]

Key facts

The processes are hollow and connect with the vesicle’s interior space. The key observation is that the small round body and projections form a continuous structure rather than separate attached pieces.^[1]

Time and place

A 2016 study examined Neoproterozoic Tonian microfossils from the Visingsö Group of present-day southern Sweden. Ancient deposits preserved in and around present-day Lake Vättern form the setting of the research.^[1]

The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.

Size, form and skeleton

Unbranched tubular processes extend from a round vesicle with a smooth, thin wall. The vesicle widths of the two studied specimens were reported as 40 and 38 micrometers, respectively.^[1]

Habitat and reproduction

The upper Visingsö Group deposits examined in the study preserve evidence of shallow seas and tidally influenced shores. Diverse organic-walled microfossils and stromatolites together convey that environment.^[1]

Fossil discovery

The material compared in this study consists of one well-preserved and one broken specimen. Microfossils obtained from drill-core samples were mounted on slides and examined with transmitted-light microscopy.^[1]

References

1. The Biodiversity of Organic-Walled Eukaryotic Microfossils from the Tonian Visingsö Group, Sweden
2. Loron (2016) — Organic-walled microfossils from the Tonian of Sweden
3. Javaux·Knoll — Early microscopic life of Australia’s Roper Group

Research questions

A 1994 revision grouped forms with one and two processes together and broadened the species description to include 1–4 processes. This is a taxonomic story comparing a name with the actual diversity of specimens.^[1]

Observation

The illustration shows a round vesicle connected to one process. From the smooth wall, follow the slightly conical base of the process into its long tube.^[1]