The extinct Solenoporaceae have traditionally been interpreted as a group of

red alga Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta also comprises one of the largest phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 currently recognized species with taxonomic revisions ongoing. The majority ...

e ancestral to the

Corallinales Coralline algae are red algae in the order Corallinales. They are characterized by a thallus that is hard because of calcareous deposits contained within the cell walls. The colors of these algae are most typically pink, or some other shade of re ...

. The genus from which they take their name, ''Solenopora'', originates in the Ordovician. Unlike the

Corallinaceae The Corallinaceae are one of the two extant Coralline families of red algae; they are differentiated from the morphologically similar Sporolithaceae by their formation of grouped sporangial chambers, clustered into sori. The Corallinoideae ...

, this family has large vegetative cells and an undifferentiated thallus. Additionally there are external, non-calcified sporangia. The differences in structure suggest that the holotype is not an alga at all, but rather is a chaetetid sponge. Post-Palaeozoic specimens therefore require re-classification. However, some algal taxa are still classified within the genus. Some specimens of algal ''Solenopora'' retain an original pink colouration, which is banded with growth stages of the fossil; this is produced by boron-containing hydrocarbons. The solenoporaceae mineralized with calcite.

Other genera within the Solenoporaceae

Although the following other genera have been included in this family, their status is uncertain due to the loose definition of the family.Paleobiology Database
/ref> *'' Dendronella'' Moussavian and Senowbari-Daryan 1988 *'' Elianella'' *''

Marinella Marinella ( el, Μαρινέλλα) (born 20 May 1938, Thessaloniki) is one of the most popular Greek singers whose career has spanned several decades. She has sung professionally since 1957. Since the beginning of her career, she has release ...

'' Pfender 1939 *'' Metasolenopora'' Pia 1930 *'' Parachaetetes'' Deninger 1906 *'' Pycnoporidium'' Yabe and Toyama 1928 *'' Solenoporella'' Rothpletz *'' Tauristorea'' Senowbari-Daryan and Link 2005

References

Red algae genera Fossil algae Cambrian first appearances Cenozoic extinctions Fossils of Georgia (U.S. state) Paleozoic life of Ontario Paleozoic life of Newfoundland and Labrador Paleozoic life of Nunavut Paleozoic life of Quebec {{paleo-biota-stub

Other genera within the Solenoporaceae

See also

References