Abstract:

Abundant well-preserved animal and macroalgal fossils were discovered in the Early-Middle Cambrian Kaili Formation of Taijiang County, Guizhou Province, China, which constitute the Kaili Biota, named as one of the three important Burgess Shale-type faunas. The bryophyte-like fossil (Parafunaria sinensis Yang gen. et sp. nov) was discovered in the horizon of occurrence of Macroalgal fossils. The fossil of P. sinensis possesses typical characters of bryophyte, such as whorled leaves, capsule and seta, and complex rhizoid or foot. We infer that the bryophyte-like fossil could be the ancestor of bryophyte. The discovery provides a new lead for further study on the origin and evolution of bryophyte or land plant.

Key words: bryophyte-like fossil, Kaili Formation, Middle Cambrian, Guizhou Province