Ramathallus
Possible stem-group Rhodophyte
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Ramathallus is a genus of sessile lobate alga that represents a probable stem-Rhodophyte from the Upper Statherian, 1600 Million years ago.[1] The holotype of Ramathallus lobatus shows a cell structure with finger-like protrusions and a coating of non-cellular apatic. The cells have a dark granular material inside of them.[1] The organism grew by apical growth and possessed pseudoparenchymatous thallus which in turn infer a possible affinity with the Florideophyceae. Many lobate protrusions radiated from the organisms centre composed out of pseudoparenchymatous tissue interpreted as "Cell fountains" made up of variably-sized cells. Ramathallus shares a close morphological similarity with the Ediacaran genera made up of pseudoparenchymatous, lobate fossils (Thallophyca, Thallophycoides, Paramecia and Gremiphyca) from the Doushantuo phosphorites of China .[1]
| Ramathallus Temporal range: Late Statherian, ~ | |
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| Reconstruction of Ramathallus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Genus: | †Ramathallus Bengston et al., 2017 |
| Species: | †R. lobatus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Ramathallus lobatus Bengston et al., 2017 | |
