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Researchers Discover New Anthrophyopsis Fossil Material in Sichuan Basin, China

Sep 08, 2021

Anthrophyopsis Nathorst is an extinct but representative Late Triassic gymnosperm genus. However, the taxonomic statuses and the leaf morphological variation of this fossil plant remain unclear. 

Recently, an international research team led by Prof. WANG Yongdong from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Science (NIGPAS) discovered several well-preserved fossil material belonging to Anthrophyopsis from the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Guangyuan City of northern Sichuan Basin, China.

Their findings were published in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 

Prof. Mihai E. Popa from University of Bucharest of Romania and Prof. ZHANG Tingshan's team from Southwest Petroleum University of China were also involved as key members in the study.

The researchers conducted a comprehensive systematic study of Anthrophyopsis and investigated the significance of its tempo-spatial distribution pattern.

"The newly collected specimens show various outlines with depths of incision for different leaves, pointing to transitional shapes between entire and lobed margins," said Prof. WANG. This enabled a detailed and updated morphological diagnosis emendation of this fossil at genus and species level.

Then, the researchers conducted a new reconstruction of its type species Anthrophyopsis crassinervis with emphasis on its heteromorphic leaf morphologies.  

The re-investigation on the global fossil record shows that among 16 species of Anthrophyopsis documented worldwide, only three of them are valid species, other four species need further revision, and nine species are invalid. 

In addition, the researchers found that Anthrophyopsis has a short stratigraphic range and confined to Upper Triassic sequences, from the Carnian to the Rhaetian in age. Anthrophyopsis possibly originated from the South China Block during the Carnian, migrated along the northern frame of the Tethys realm, and finally arrived in Middle East and Europe.

"The short stratigraphic range of Anthrophyopsis in the Southern Floristic Province (SFP) implies a climate differentiation between the SFP and the Northern Floristic Province during the Late Triassic," said Prof. WANG.

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy.

 

 Fig.1 Anthrophyopsis crassinervis from Guangyuan area of northern Sichuan Basin, South China, showing almost entire margin with crenation (Image by NIGPAS) 

 

Fig. 2 Anthrophyopsis crassinervis from Guangyuan area of northern Sichuan Basin, South China, showing thick midrib with secondary vein meshes and leaf margin with deep incisions (Image by NIGPAS)

 

Fig. 3 Morphological reconstructions of Anthrophyopsis crassinervis, showing heteromorphic leaf morphologies (Image by NIGPAS)

 

Fig. 4 Palaeogeographic map showing the distribution of genus Anthrophyopsis around the world during the Late Triassic and its suggested migration routes (Image by NIGPAS) 

Contact

LIU Yun

Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology

E-mail:

Re-appraisal of Anthrophyopsis (Gymnospermae): New material from China and global fossil records

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