''Collenia'' is
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria ( ) are a group of autotrophic gram-negative bacteria that can obtain biological energy via oxygenic photosynthesis. The name "cyanobacteria" () refers to their bluish green (cyan) color, which forms the basis of cyanobacteri ...
that form a particular type of
stromatolite
Stromatolites ( ) or stromatoliths () are layered Sedimentary rock, sedimentary formation of rocks, formations (microbialite) that are created mainly by Photosynthesis, photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, sulfate-reducing micr ...
s.
Description
''Collenia'' are stromatolites made up of convex layers flattened in the center, forming columnar colonies. The microorganisms involved were likely photosynthetic bacteria expiring oxygen.
[Carroll Lane Fenton,Pat Vickers Rich,Mildred Adams Fenton,Thomas H. V. Ric]
The Fossil Book: A Record of Prehistoric Life
/ref>
Fossil record
''Collenia'' stromatolites were very common in the Paleoproterozoic era during the Siderian and Rhyacian periods, about 2.2 to 2.4 billion years ago.
See also
* List of fossil stromatolites
References
External links
Geological Survey Professional Paper, Volume 669
* Spencer G. Lucas,Justin A. Spielmann,Patricia M. Hester,Jason P. Kenworthy,Vincent L. Santucc
Americas Antiquities: 100 Years of Managing Fossils on Federal Lands
* ttps://books.google.com/books?id=s6oPAAAAIAAJ&dq=Collenia+fossil&pg=PA133 Index of Generic Names of Fossil Plants, 1820-1950
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5147044
Proterozoic life
†Collenia
Prehistoric bacteria