''Kulparia'' is a genus of fossil
stromatolite-forming
cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blu ...
from the late
Neoproterozoic era. It is named after the town of
Kulpara in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, where the
type specimen
In biology, a type is a particular wiktionary:en:specimen, specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to a ...
was found nearby.
Description
''Kulparia'' is a genus of cyanobacteria known from fossil
stromatolites characterised by long, bumpy, almost straight columns arranged radially or parallel. Branching between columns is α- or β- parallel. Bridging and coalescing are very frequent, a wall between bridges is almost always present. Projections are moderately frequent to rare.
The stromatolites of ''Kulparia'' appear similar to ''
Minjaria'' and ''
Boxonia'' in gross form but is distinguished by its bumpy column margins and frequent bridging and coalescing.
Taxonomy
''K. kulparensis'' was initially assigned to the genus ''
Patomia'' as ''Patomia sp. nov''
(Glaessner, Preiss, & Walter 1969) but was later assigned to its own genus where it became the
type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...
.
Two species are recognised, ''K. kulparensis,''
and ''K. alicia.''
Distribution
Fossils of ''K. kulparensis'' have been found in the
Umbertana Group in the northern
Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, south of Kulpara.
''K. alicia'' fossils have been found in the
Loves Creek Member of the
Bitter Springs Formation in the
Amaedus Basin of
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
, west-south-west of
Jay Creek Aboriginal Settlement.
See also
*
List of fossil stromatolite taxa
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q126366444
Proterozoic life
Prehistoric bacteria
Cyanobacteria genera
Fossil taxa described in 1972