New Spheromorphic Problematics Gaparella from the Lower Cambrian of Western Mongolia

From the lower part of the Tommotian Stage of the Lower Cambrian of Western Mongolia, ridge Hevte-Tsakhir-Nuruu described a new problematical sphaeromorhical microfossils Gaparella elenae sp. nov.; a new combination of generic and specific names Gaparella kuanchuanpuensis (Qian, 1977). has been proposed. Despite its very peculiar morphology, the genus Gaparella Missarzhevsky in Missarzhevsky et Mambetov, 1981 is more often mentioned in the list of synonyms of the genus Archaeooides Qian, 1977. The taphonomic variability of Mongolian Gaparella is shown and the morphology is reconstructed: these were hollow spheres, with a perforated double thin wall; between the holes, which were located chaotically on small elevations, a system of canals was developed; the wall may have been organic with an admixture of mineral components. Based on their lifestyle, these fossils were probably planktonic filter feeders. Their level of organization appears to have been consistent with Porifera; most likely these were juvenile forms.