The Dengying Formation is an upper Ediacaran (551-541 Ma[2]) fossiliferous geologic formation found in South China. It was deposited on a shallow marine carbonate platform.[3] It also contains a rare example of Burgess Shale-type Preservation within the Ediacaran, in the form of the Tongshan Lagerstätte.[4]
Listed by ascending age:
- The Hamajing Member is characterized by light grey, medium- to thick-bedded dolomite, intercalated with thin layers of chert.[3]
- The Shibantan Member is interpreted to represent a subtidal environment and is composed of dark grey, thin-bedded bituminous limestone. It is the most fossiliferous of the Dengying Formation members and has yielded several trace fossils, such as Lamonte,[5] as well as possible lobopodian trackways.[6]
- The Baimatuo Member consists of light grey, thick-bedded dolomite.[3]
Traditionally, the Tianzhushan Member was considered to be the uppermost unit of the Dengying Formation. However, its small shelly fossils and Micrhystridium-like acritarchs are a shared characteristic with the Cambrian Yanjiahe Formation.[3] The Kuanchuanpu Formation also is occasionally placed as a member of the Dengying Formation,[7] however it is likely separate for the same reasons.
The Dengying formation is unique from other Ediacaran formations in that its top is almost right up against the Ediacaran - Cambrian boundary, with more recent organisms being described that have striking similarities with Cambrian fauna, like Alienum. There are also a lot of ichnogenera in the form of burrows, something that is common in younger Ediacaran rocks the closer to the Cambrian boundary they are.
A recent paper has also found a rare example of Burgess Shale-type Preservation outside of the known range of all members, in what is known as the Tongshan Lagerstätte. This preserves a wide range of fossil forms, including the first rangeomorph fronds with Burgess Shale-type preservation.[4]
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Color key
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Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
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| Genus
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Species
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Notes
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Images
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| Protolagena[23]
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- P. limbata
- P. gaojiashanensis
- P. papillatus
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Vase-like microorganisms.
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| Sicylagena[23]
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Vase-like microorganisms.
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Species
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Notes
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Images
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| ESEN 0013[4]
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Tubular organism, possible affinities to Metazoa.
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| Undescribed rangeomorph "ESEN 0016"[4]
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Frondose organism, 3 distinct lobe-like regions, consisting of a thick stalk and two petaloids, which are made up of tightly packed branches.
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| Fan-shaped rangeomorphs[4]
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Two frondose organisms with a similar appearance to Bradgatia, with one of the specimens, ESEN 0018, preserving with a possible holdfast.
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| Undescribed rangeomorph "ESEN 0019"[4]
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Frondose organism, with a similar appearance to Charniodiscus, consisting of a thick stalk and two petaloids, which are made up of tightly packed branches, also preserves a notable holdfast.
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| Undescribed rangeomorph "ESEN 0020"[4]
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Elongated frondose organism, with a similar appearance to Paracharnia, consisting of a thin stalk and two petaloids, which are made up of tightly packed branches, alongside a possible holdfast at its base.
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| Zhenba columns[25]
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Possible affinities with coralline algae.
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| Baseball bat-shaped form[4]
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Baseball bat-shaped form, possibly macroalgae.
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| Irregular circular form[4]
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Oblong-shaped form, possibly macroalgae.
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| Net-like form[4]
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Netted form, possibly macroalgae.
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| ribbon-like form[4]
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Ribbon like form, possibly macroalgae.
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| Bilateria indet.
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Known to have several pairs of appendages, but its exact affinity is unknown[26]
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