Discovery of Ceratosphaeridium (Acritarcha) from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Yangtze Gorges, South China and its biostratigraphic implication

Ceratosphaeridium Grey, 2005 is a key taxon of ECAP (Ediacaran complex acritarch palynoflora) in the Officer and Amadeus basins, South Australia. Recently, several specimens of Ceratosphaeridium were fortuitously observed from the Member III of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges, South China. The discovery of Ceratosphaeridium and other associated acritarchs from the Doushantuo Formation suggests that this taxon is widely distributed and with potential for inter-continental correlation of Ediacaran strata. Acritarch assemblages in Member III of the Doushantuo Formation in Yangtze Gorges can now be correlated with the Ediacaran Complex acantrhiomorph palynoflora (ECAP) of South Australia. At present, the ECAP cannot be correlated with the lower microfossil assemblage of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation of the Yangtze Gorges (characterized by the key taxon Tainzhushania and this interval may be missing in South Australia.