Svanbergfjellet Formation Type Formation Unit of Akademikerbreen Group Underlies Draken Formation Overlies Grudievbreen Formation Region Svalbard Country Norway
The Svanbergfjellet Formation is a geologic formation in Svalbard . It preserves eukaryotic fossils dating back to the Late Tonian period , around 790 Ma.
Paleobiota
After Butterfield et al, 1994.[ 2]
Color key
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text ; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Paleobiota
Genus
Species
Notes
Images
Proterocladus
P. major
P. minor
P. hermannae
Filamentous green algae , another species is the earliest such fossil found
Fossil of P. antiquus , an earlier species from China
Palaeastrum
Filamentous eukaryote, possibly a green alga.
Palaeastrum fossil
Pseudotawuia
Enigmatic eukaryote, bears two unusual kidney-shaped structures at its tip.
Tawuia
Enigmatic eukaryote, possibly an alga.
Valkyria
Filamentous eukaryote, bears several differentiated cells/cell types, possibly placing it at tissue-grade organisation?[ 2]
Cerebrosphaera
Acritarch
Chuaria
Acritarch
Cymatiosphaeroides
Acritarch
Dictyotidium
Acritarch
Germinosphaera
G. bispinosa
G. fibrilla
G. jankauskasii
Acritarch
Goniosphaeridium
Acritarch
Gorgonisphaeridium
Acritarch
Leiosphaeridia
L. crassa
L. jacutica
L. tenuissima
L. wimanii
Acritarch
Osculosphaera
Acritarch
Pterospermopsimorpha
Acritarch
Trachyhystrichosphaera
Acritarch
Gloeodiniopsis
Cyanobacteria
Eoentophysalis
E. belcherensis
E. croxfordii
Cyanobacteria
Polybessurus
Cyanobacteria
Obruchevella
Cyanobacteria
Eosynechococcus
Cyanobacteria
Sphaerophycus
Cyanobacteria
Cephalonyx
Cyanobacteria
Cyanonema
Cyanobacteria
Oscillatoriopsis
O. vermiformis
O. obtusa
O. amadeus
O. longa
Cyanobacteria
Palaeolyngbya
P. catenata
P. hebeiensis
Cyanobacteria
Siphonophycus
S. thulenema
S. septatum
S. robustum
S. typicum
S. kestron
S. solidum
Cyanobacteria
Tortunema
Cyanobacteria
Brachypleganon
Cyanobacteria
Chlorogloeaopsis
Cyanobacteria
Digitus
Cyanobacteria
Myxococcoides
M. minor
M. cantabrigiensis
Cyanobacteria
Ostiana
Cyanobacteria
Palaeosiphonella
Cyanobacteria
References
^ Mughal, Sanaa; Millikin, Alexie E. G.; Zhang, Tianran; Gibson, Timothy M.; Rooney, Alan D.; Tosca, Nicholas J.; Bergmann, Kristin D.; Strauss, Justin V.; Anderson, Ross P. (25 February 2025). "The Svanbergfjellet Formation: eukaryotic life in a Tonian Sea" . Journal of the Geological Society . 182 (3). doi :10.1144/jgs2024-083 .
^ a b Butterfield, Nicholas J.; Knoll, Andrew H.; Swett, Keene (15 July 1994). "Paleobiology of the Neoproterozoic Svanbergfjellet Formation, Spitsbergen". Fossils and Strata . 34 . doi :10.18261/8200376494-1994-01 .