Beltanelliformis brunsae Menner in Keller et al., 1974: an undoubted Ediacaran fossil from Neoproterozoic of Dobrogea (Romania)

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of Beltanelliformis brunsae fossils in Romania's Neoproterozoic Histria Formation, confirming its wide distribution and supporting the Ediacaran age of the formation.

Contribution

It provides detailed descriptions of new fossils from Romania, expanding the known geographical range of Beltanelliformis brunsae and confirming the Ediacaran age of the Histria Formation.

Findings

First confirmed Ediacaran fossils from Romania

Extended the known distribution of Beltanelliformis brunsae

Supported the Ediacaran age of the Histria Formation

Abstract

Ediacaran fossils are now largely known in different parts of the world. However, some countries are poorly documented on these remains of a still enigmatic life. Thus, rare fossils from the Neoproterozoic Histria Formation of central Dobrogea (Romania) have been reported. Two specimens with discoid imprints are described here in detail and assigned to the typical Ediacaran species Beltanelliformis brunsae Menner in Keller et al., 1974. This paleontological development confirms both the large geographical distribution of this species and the Ediacaran age of the Histria Formation. KEY WORDS Flat discoid imprints, Ediacaran biota, Precambrian, Dobrogea, Romania. R{\'E}SUM{\'E}