Gaoyuzhuang Formation

The Gaoyuzhuang Formation is a geologic formation in China. It preserves fossils dating back to the Calymmian period of the Mesoproterozoic. It is one of the first formations to preserve definitive macroscopic eukaryotes, at almost 1.6 billion years old.^[2] In addition to this, the site preserves a diverse microbiota with various cyanobacteria and fungus-like fossils known.^[3]

Gaoyuzhuang Formation
Stratigraphic range: 1588.8±6.5 Ma [1]
Type	Formation
Underlies	Yangzhuang Formation
Overlies	Dahongyu Formation
Thickness	~1800 m
Location
Country	China

Paleobiota

After Chen et al, 2023,^[2] Shi et al, 2017,^[3] Liu et al, 2015^[4] and Seong-Joo & Golubic, 1999^[5]

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Paleobiota

Paleobiota
Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Grandilingulata	G. qianxiensis	Enigmatic frond-like organism	A restoration of Grandilingulata qianxiensis
Tuanshanzia	T. linearis T. parva T. fasciata	Enigmatic frond-like organism; possibly within Archaeplastida	A restoration of Tuanshanzia fasciaria
Proterotainia	P. sp	Enigmatic filamentous organism, possibly within Vendotaenida.	A restoration of Proterotainia sp.
Qingshania	Q. kuanchengensis	Enigmatic filamentous eukaryote
Ramificansa	R. moniliformis R. jianshanziensis	Enigmatic filamentous alga, possibly a rhodophyte
Siphonophycus	S. thulenema S. robustum S. typicum S. solidum S. inornatum S. kestron	Cyanobacteria
Oscillatoriopsis	O. obtusa O. amadeus O. longa O. princeps O. gigas	Cyanobacteria
Veteronostocale	V. majusculus V. grandis	Cyanobacteria
Cyanonema	C. attenuate C. grandis	Cyanobacteria
Palaeolyngbya	P. catenata P. maxima P. barghoorniana	Cyanobacteria
Coccostratus	C. dispergens	Cyanobacteria
Eoentophysalis	E. belcherensis	Cyanobacteria
Eoschizothrix	E. composita	Cyanobacteria
Arctacellularia	A. ellipsoidea	Cyanobacteria
Chlorogloeaopsis	C. contexta	Cyanobacteria
Archaeoellipsoides	A. obesus	Cyanobacteria
Obruchevella	O. pussila O. sp	Cyanobacteria, commonly found in Neoproterozoic sediments
Changchengonema	C. yamenziensis	Cyanobacteria
Eoaphanocapsa	E. sp.	Cyanobacteria
Eosynechococcus	E. moorei E. brevis	Cyanobacteria
Myxococcoides	M. grandis M. distola	Cyanobacteria
Palaeoanacystis	P. sp	Cyanobacteria
Sphaerophycus	S. parvum	Cyanobacteria
Tetraphycus	T. sp	Cyanobacteria
Saccolyngbya	S. qingshanensis	Cyanobacteria
Cephalophytarion	C. sp	Cyanobacteria
Coniunctiophycus	C. sp C. majorinum	Acritarch
Clonophycus	C. sp	Acritarch
Leiosphaeridia	L. sp	Acritarch
Leioarachnitum	L. sp	Acritarch
Trachysphaeridium	T. aperturum	Acritarch
Microconcentrica	M. testudinarius	Acritarch
Baltisphaeridium	B. bulbosum	Acritarch
Cornutosphaera	C. triquetrus	Acritarch
Paleamorpha	P. squanifera	Acritarch

In addition to these fossils, five unnamed forms are also known. Forms A and B are only known from one specimen, Form C is too fragmentary to be named, and Forms D and E bear no resemblance to any plant, prokaryote, animal or protist. However, various hyphomycetous fungi do form similar structures to forms D and E, thus they may be within this group.^[3]