Introduction

The late Neoproterozoic interval was a critical time of turbulent environmental changes and key evolutionary innovations. Postdating global, low-latitude glaciations1 and coincident with progressive oxygenation of the oceans2 that intensified in the Ediacaran Period3 was the emergence of complex ecosystems4,5,6,7. Diversification of multicellular life across various eukaryotic groups included macroscopic algae8,9,10, soft-bodied Ediacara-type biota6,11, biomineralizing and vermiform organisms12,13. Although multicellularity evolved multiple times amongst Precambrian eukaryotes14,15, it only rose to prominence in the late Proterozoic16 and its Neoproterozoic record is dominated by taxonomically problematic groups, often restricted to cases of remarkable preservation9,16,17,18,19 (with rare exceptions20). The extent to which early multicellular fossils occur due to special taphonomic conditions rather than a true diversification is unclear (cf.21), so data outside of cases of exceptional preservation are of special value. The macroscopic Ediacara-type biota appears shortly after a widespread negative carbon isotope excursion22 and a short-lived low-latitude glaciation (Gaskiers23), but little is known about Earth’s biosphere during the pre-glacial interval of the earliest Ediacaran outside of Konservat-Lagerstätten17,22,24. The early Ediacaran fossil record includes microfossils (Doushantuo-Pertatataka-type acritarchs25,26) and carbonaceous compression fossils identified as algae or problematica9,10,22.

Here we describe a new organically-preserved multicellular (or colonial) eukaryote Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. (Figs 1–3) from the intraglacial Nyborg Formation (c. 635–580 Ma) on the Digermulen Peninsula, Arctic Norway. Fragmentary specimens are a common component of the upper Nyborg assemblage. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed an unusual arrangement of hollow tubes terminating in cup-shaped structures previously not recorded among Proterozoic microfossils, that justify the establishment of a new taxon. C. digermulense resembles epithalli of red algae otherwise known from preservation in phosphorites, and also shares characteristics with other protists and putative Ediacaran sponge fossils (Fig. S5).

Figure 1
figure 1

Transmitted light photomicrographs of Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. from the Nyborg Formation. (a) Fossil tissue extracted via palynological maceration, TSGf18422 (England finder position: U38). (b) Carbonaceous fossil embedded in shale in thin section, TSGf18424 (J61/1).

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Results

Geological setting

The Nyborg Formation, lower Vestertana Group assigned to the early Ediacaran27,28, occurs between two glaciogenic diamictites (Smalfjorden and Mortensnes formations), exposed in Finnmark, Arctic Norway (Fig. S1). It consists of interbedded purple sandstones and shale-and-siltstone packages, with cap dolomites at the base associated with the Marinoan glaciation28,29. Nyborg Formation sediments represent a shallowing-upwards sequence, and tidally-influenced marine environment28,30. The Mortensnes diamictite is overlain by siliciclastics of the Stáhpogieddi Formation, which contain Ediacara-type fossils and ichnofossils31,32,33. Previously reported organic-walled microfossils from the Nyborg Formation include leiosphaerids and ‘Trachysphaeridium’34.

Systematic palaeontology

Domain EUKARYA Woese et al. 1990.

Genus Cyathinema nov.

Type species

Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. (Figs 1–3) from the lower Ediacaran Nyborg Formation, Finnmark, Norway.

Etymology

From Latin cyathus, meaning a cup/goblet, and nema, a thread; referring to cup-shaped terminations of tubular threads that comprise the fossil.

Diagnosis

As for type species.

Cyathinema digermulense sp. nov.

Etymology

In reference to the Digermulen Peninsula, where the fossils were first discovered.

Holotype

TSGf18420c (O37/2) (Fig. 2a–d), from the Nyborg Formation, 20 cm below the Mortensnes Formation, catalogued in the palaeontological collection of the Arctic University Museum of Norway.

Material

24 specimens from the uppermost Nyborg Formation, samples D14-N1, D14-N2, D16-HA-69, D16-HA-74.

Locality and stratigraphy

Siltstones and claystones of the uppermost Nyborg Formation, Vestertana Group, exposed on the southeastern shore of Digermulen Peninsula in Finnmark County, Arctic Norway (N70°34.005′, E028°06.739′, Fig. S1), 5 cm to 8 m below the Mortensnes Formation diamictite correlated28 with the Ediacaran Gaskiers glaciation.

Diagnosis

Thalloid, sheet-like body with cellular assortment, comprising a meshwork of interwoven or stacked tubules that terminate in dome-like or cup-shaped structures. Sheets reticulate in appearance on one side. Tubular elements hollow, non-branching, variable in length. Tube extremities commonly open-ended and cup-shaped, occasionally closed distally. Cups and tubes separated by a constriction with a small, circular opening. Inner opening within cup-shaped terminus extends into the hollow tube, and varies in size up to 30% of the cup diameter. Where the cup is not visible, the internal constriction (with inner opening) is still clear. Wide, short neck develops occasionally between tubes and cup-termini. Carbonaceous walls robust and taphonomically recalcitrant.

Figure 2
figure 2

Tubes composing the sheet of Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. (a–c) A fragment of Cyathinema, stacked tubes are visible on one side. TSGf18420d (U40/2). Boxes in (a) indicate where the magnified elements illustrated in figures (b) in red and (c) in blue are located. (d) A fractured tube where with a visible interior. A narrower siphon-like structure is running perpendicular to the tube walls (red arrow). Only one broken specimen shows tube interior with a “siphon”, but it is unclear if that is a true character. No internal features are observed in other specimens. TSGF18421. (e) TSGf18420e. (f) TSGf18423b. (g) Top-down view of the apical side, TSGf18423a (uncoated sample for EDX analysis). All images are scanning secondary electron (SEM) photomicrographs.

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Figure 3
figure 3

Cup-shaped terminations on the apical side of Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. (a) TSGf18420b (N39). (b–d) TSGf18423c. (b) Circular inner openings (red arrow) are connecting the cup-shaped termini with cells underneath. Occasional unopened domed termini are seen on the right. (e) TSGf18423b. (f) TSGf18423a, arrow indicates inner opening inside the cup-like terminus. (e–f) Uncoated samples in environmental low vacuum mode for EDX analysis. Well-preserved cups have an even and well-defined outline (f), although they commonly appear torn (d) which may be a result of sample processing. All images are SEM photomicrographs.

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Description of fossils

The new Nyborg microfossils are carbonaceous, rectangular to cigar-shaped, sheet-like structures, and they vary in size, shape, and number of individual elements (tubes). The fossils extracted from the rock matrix via palynological acid maceration appear as semiopaque, dark-brown structures when observed via transmitted light microscopy (Fig. 1a). Colour indicates moderate thermal alteration of the organic matter (TAI = 3.5–4), which is corroborated by Raman spectroscopy (Fig. S4). All recovered fossils occur in fragments (up to 327 µm long, mean (\(\bar{{\rm{x}}}\)) = 158 µm, standard deviation (st.dev.) = 78.15, number of measured specimens (n) = 14) as thin, flattened sheets (c. 10 µm thickness) (Table S1). Cup-like structures on specimens’ surface give the sheets a reticular appearance (Fig. 1).

Anatomical details are more recognizable via high-magnification SEM. Fossils comprise a pattern of densely stacked and occasionally interwoven tubes (Figs 2a,b and 3e) crowned with either domed termini (Fig. 3b) or straight or cup-like openings (Figs 2e–f and 3b–f). Tubes are on average 5.02 µm wide (st.dev. = 0.94, n = 91), most commonly parallel, occasionally intertwining, but never branching. Tubes are mostly concealed along their lengths. On specimens where their entire length could be measured, tubes range from 7–22.5 µm (\(\bar{{\rm{x}}}\) = 15.5 µm, st.dev. = 5.4 μm, n = 38) (Table S1). Individual tubes are hollow, terminate in closed domes or open cup-shaped structures (Figs 2d–f and 6) and connect to the interior of the “cup” through a small, circular opening (Fig. 3b,c,f). The inner opening is consistent in size up to 1/3 of the overall cup size (\(\bar{{\rm{x}}}\) = 1.6 μm, st.dev. = 0.52 μm, n = 96), has a well-defined outline, so it likely represents a true character. The average diameter of the cup-structure is 5.05 μm (st.dev. = 1.1 μm, n = 195), and it corresponds to the tube diameter (Figs 4b and S3). The tubes narrow before terminating in the wider cup-structure, thereby creating a neck-like feature seen in some specimens (Fig. 2e–f). Cup-like structures often have an uneven margin and appear broken (Fig. 3d) and could have been formed by the breakage of the tubes, but well-preserved specimens possess cups with a well-defined, smooth margin (Fig. 3f). Tubes are robust (Figs 2e and 3f), 0.4–1.1 μm in wall thickness, and optically dense. Cups—tube terminations with an inner opening (Fig. 3b,c), have been observed only on one side. When visible, the opposite side of a tube may be open-ended due to breakage, but does not possess a cup-like termination segregated from the tube via small, inner opening. Following those observations, it appears true apical openings (cups with inner openings) are distributed only on one side of the fossil. Cups and the closed domed apices share the same diameter (Fig. 3b), though closed tips are rarer and randomly distributed on the surface of the fossil, meaning that the cups likely formed by opening or breakage of domed apices, and could have functioned as apertures. It is unlikely that these structures are a result of inward collapse because high-magnification SEM reveals structures within the cups, such as inner opening (Fig. 3b,c,f) extending into a hollow tube. There are few fractured specimens where the tube interior is visible; a narrow siphon is observed in one specimen (Fig. 2d), but others do not reveal additional internal features.

Although the tubes and cup-like termini vary in size, they are uniform in diameter on a particular fragment (Table S1; Fig. S2). Fossils with larger tubes are associated with larger cups and internal openings (Fig. 4b). The fossil appears stratified; cups with inner openings only occur on one end of examined specimens, presumably the fossil surface. In addition to the material extracted from the rock matrix, Cyathinema was also observed in thin sections (Fig. 1b), which rules out the likelihood of originating from recent contamination. Specimens in thin sections are usually bigger than the macerated material (Fig. 4a, Table S1) and commonly elongate. Size ranges from 68 to 413 μm (\(\bar{{\rm{x}}}\) = 231.7 μm, st.dev. = 120.3 μm, n = 10). Breakage and tearing visible around the edges (Fig. 1b) suggest that all specimens are allochthonous and were not deposited complete or preserved in life position. This is further supported by the orientation of fossil fragments’ long axis at various angles to the laminar bedding, which indicates that the fossils underwent transport and re-deposition like clasts. As a result, the full size and morphology of Cyathinema remain unclear.

Figure 4
figure 4

Measured dimensions of the fossils and elements of Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. (a) Size distribution of fossil fragments extracted via acid maceration (black) and fragments observed in thin sections (grey). (b) Crossplot showing tube diameter plotted against cup diameter (dark grey, n = 92) and tube diameter vs. inner opening diameter (light grey, n = 42). The diameter of the cup structure follows the width of the tubes, but the side of inner openings is largely consistent, even if it occurs in larger tubes. Only tubes on which the large opening (cup) diameter and the inner opening were visible were measured and compared on the crossplot.

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Chemical composition

Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) and Raman spectroscopy determined that the meshwork microfossils of the Nyborg Formation are composed mainly of carbonaceous material (Fig. 5). Elemental mapping showed that the surface of some macerated specimens is lightly coated with aluminosilicates and most abundantly titanium oxides derived from the debris of the host sediment (Fig. 5b,c). Raman spectra collected from the wall of Cyathinema show two prominent vibrational peaks at ~1367 cm−1 and 1621 cm−1 representing disordered (D) and graphitic (G) bands of organic carbon (Fig. S4). Intense D-band indicates low epizonal thermal maturity of the carbonaceous material35.

Preservation

The fossils are preserved as organic matter in shale and siltstone. Raman spectrometry showed moderate thermal maturity of carbonaceous matter (Fig. S4). The fossils exhibit some degree of degradation, but usually have a well-preserved, featureless surface (Fig. 3). Good organic preservation and the ability to withstand acetolysis indicate that the original tissue was probably composed of recalcitrant material like organic-walled microfossils and small carbonaceous fossils, and/or deposited under conditions inhibiting biodegradation (cf.36). Both in the macerated material and thin sections, Cyathinema specimens are truncated, which can be attributed to short transport after death rather than sample processing.

Remarks

Incompleteness of all recovered specimens implies they were a part of a larger structure, perhaps with higher preservation potential than the rest of the organism. Cellular differentiation (elongate tubular cell, and rounded terminal cell connected to the tube via small opening) also supports a multicellular nature of Cyathinema. Even though they represent a single component of a larger entity, the Nyborg fossils share features with red algae (Rhodophyta)8,37,38, colonial protists39, demosponge larvae or stolon cells (Porifera)40,41,42 and elements of Eocyathispongia43 (Table S2; Fig. S5).

Discussion

Function and reconstruction

All recovered specimens of Cyathinema are redeposited fragments, so the original overall shape and size of the fossils are yet unknown. This is unsurprising considering that small organisms or disarticulated body parts are more predisposed to transport. The sheets were a part of a larger entity and may be classified as an organ-taxon, i.e. disassociated body-parts whose contributing organism is not preserved, or unknown44. No other sheet morphologies were recovered from the Nyborg Formation, including previous micropalaeontological studies34. One explanation could be higher preservation potential of the tubes that form Cyathinema. Fossils were able to withstand palynological acid extraction, as is common among recalcitrant material preserved organically within shales36. This innate recalcitrance suggests that cups-and-tubes were a form of cuticular material or that they contained cell walls. Other modes of fossilization, e.g. early silicification45 or phosphatization37 that allow exceptional preservation of more delicate elements could potentially record other components of this organism.

Figure 5
figure 5

Elemental composition of macerated fossils from energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. (a) Point-analysis on a tube of Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. shows that the fossil is primarily composed of carbon. TSGf18420a. (b,c) Elemental mapping shows the two most abundant elements. The fossils are composed of carbonaceous matter, and often covered with debris of titanium, likely originating from rutile. (b) TSGf18424. (c) Specimen of a rolled-up sheet, TSGf18420b.

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Disassociated fossils are difficult to classify, yet they offer glimpses into the fossil organism’s function and thus palaeobiology, keeping in mind the caveat of convergent evolution. Cyathinema appears polarized along the basal-apical axis (Fig. 6). Comparable tissues in various organisms, from epithallus of red algae to chambered walls of demosponges, possess tubes with openings or cups on the external layer of the organism37,42,43. We therefore assume that cups represent the organism’s external layer. Cups and rarer domed termini are likely different stages of the same structure. The tube-and-cup arrangement of Cyathinema and its dimensions are analogous to epithelial thalli common in algae and fungi, as well as basal plants; or rhizoids–protuberances from algal epithelial cells that serve as an anchoring and a nutrient uptake structure46,47. Red algal epithallus (Fig. S5c) is produced and shed throughout life to limit fouling or prevent other organisms from attaching to the alga and overgrowing it48, or as a coping strategy for grazing pressure49. Alternatively, noting that the fossilised tissue was more robust and preservable than the rest of the organism, and thus presumably costlier to produce, it may represent a reproductive structure. The tube-and-cup arrangement is also present in apical/external reproductive cells of red algae38,50,51.

Inner opening connected into tube underneath a cup (Fig. 2b,c,f) resembles flagellum attachment points in epithelia of demosponge larvae40,42,52. The flagella are commonly used in phagocytosis53. But these features would have been easily destroyed due to low preservation potential, and are not present in red algae.

Regardless of the exact phylogenetic affinity of the Nyborg Formation fossils, their epithallus-like anatomy and fragmentary nature indicate they were an outer layer of a larger, multicellular eukaryotic organism, that played a role either in nutrient-uptake, protection or epithelial sloughing, reproduction, or a combination thereof. The geological context shows that fossils were deposited in a shallow-slope marine environment28,30, in nutrient-limited oceans (cf.1). The source organism was probably a benthic, marine eukaryote. The assumption that Cyathinema represents elements of a meso- or macroscopic organism is plausible; diverse multicellular eukaryotes had already evolved by the pre-Gaskiers interval of the early Ediacaran, as evidenced by macroscopic carbonaceous compressions from the Lantian Formation9 and suggested metazoan embryos and/or multicellular protists from Weng’an phosphorites19,54.

Comparison with fossil and extant organisms and implications for phylogenetic affinity

The morphology of Cyathinema stands out from previously described Proterozoic taxa of macerated fossils, in terms of overall construction, individual elements, and preservation. The interpretation of biological affinity is challenging due to a lack of complete specimens. We rely on well-preserved, fine-scale anatomical details revealed by SEM to assess similarities with extinct and extant clades.

Fragments of flattened cellular sheets from the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation (Fig. 7b–e55) resemble Cyathinema in transmitted light microscopy. They were found in association with cuneate carbonaceous compression fossils and interpreted as disarticulated remains of those macroscopic forms55. Unlike Cyathinema, Gaoyuzhang fragments possess irregular and cuspate cells and lack tubes.

Cyathinema also resembles charcoalified body parts of the fungus Prototaxites sp. from the Silurian–Devonian transition of Welsh Borderland (Fig. 6a–c56). The hymenial layer of Prototaxites consists of a reticulate epihymenium and tubular threads resembling the cups-and-tubes in Cyathinema (Fig. 2a), although the hymenial threads in Prototaxites are usually considerably longer (>200 μm). Among living fungi, hymenium is present in Basidiomycota and Ascomycota and serves as a surface layer of differentiated tubular cells (Fig. S5) from which reproductive structures are developed57. Unlike the terrestrial Prototaxites, Cyathinema probably inhabited a shallow-marine environment28,30, but due to transport we cannot exclude an origin in a deltaic environment. Apart from a putative occurrence of lichens in the Doushantuo Formation58 which cannot be confidently distinguished from co-occurring thalli of red algae, there is little evidence for fungal fossils in the Ediacaran. Fungi are thought to have evolved and expanded in the Ordovician–Silurian56,59,60 (although see61), but the divergence within the Opisthokonta (Holozoa including the animals and Holomycota including the fungi) must have occurred by the late Neoproterozoic due to the presence of animals (cf.15,62), so fossils of the total-group Holomycota would not be unexpected.

Charcoalified organ-taxa of Prototaxites are a part of an extinct polyphyletic group of complex, organically-preserved, tubular and reticular sheets that contain disarticulated fragments of larger organisms: nematophytes63, which bear further similarity to Cyathinema. Various nematophyte morphotypes have been interpreted as: seaweeds/red algae64, early embryophytes65, and fragments of a large fungus56. Traditionally, Nematophyta included land-dwellers, however fossils from marine settings have been reported from the Silurian of Gotland, Sweden64. Nematothallus (Figs 2a–j, 5f, 5n65) and Nematothallopsis (Fig. 5a–c64) common in Silurian–Devonian strata, resemble Cyathinema tubes in shape and size. Although the thalli of Silurian nematophytes lack cup-like structures, they possess a reticulate cuticle (Fig. 1a–c64, Fig. 1a–b65), and cells with dome-shaped tips65 similar to some Nyborg specimens (Fig. 2b). Unlike morphologically variable nematophytes63, all specimens of Cyathinema share the same form and the Nyborg Formation hosts no evidence of differentiated organ-taxa akin to Silurian–Devonian forms. Nevertheless, Cyathinema is the oldest fossil exhibiting organization present among some nematophytes. It is possible that the source organism contained only one body-part type with high enough preservation potential to leave a fossil record, unlike younger Palaeozoic nematophytes.

Tubular thecae ending in flagellar chambers are present in colonial choanoflagellates–flagellated heterotrophic protists and sister-group to Metazoa66,67. Colonies of modern non-loricate forms consist of clumps of collared cells (chart 939, Fig. 1.668), or branched tubes39,52. Inside the collar is a small round opening (Fig. 552) where the flagellum is attached, similar to the inner opening of Cyathinema (Fig. 3b–c,f). The cups are made of the same recalcitrant material as the tubes and are thus not homologous with the collars of modern choanoflagellates which consist of dense microvilli or tentacles and a mucus sheath67,68 with low preservation potential. But the inner opening could have played a similar feeding role as in modern tubular flagellated protists. Accepting the estimates for the appearance of total-group animals and choanoflagellates by late Neoproterozoic62,66, choanoflagellates or a related colonial protistan clade are not unexpected in the Ediacaran. Although it should be noted that their fossil record is virtually non-existent, even that of silica-bearing loricate forms15,67.

Reproductive structures (sporangia) of some colonial slime molds (Mesomycetozoea, Opisthokonta) also consist of clusters of stacked tubes with domed tips, e.g. Stemonitis (Fig. S5i,j), Metatrichia (Fig. 121a,b69). Upon spore release, tube tips become cup-like cavities69 that resemble Cyathinema, but are much larger (Fig. S5i,j). Sporangial clusters of Trichia favoginea (Fig. 10469) contain uneven ruptures similar to some poorly preserved specimens of Cyathinema. Akin to choanoflagellates however, the fossil record of slime molds is extremely poor and restricted to cases of exceptional preservation in amber70.

Among protists, Cyathinema also resembles deep-sea foraminifer Syringammina fragilissima (Xenophyophorea), one of the largest unicellular organisms growing up to 20 cm which exhibits an arrangement of open-ended tubes, but it is an order of magnitude larger than Cyathinema. Syringammina also has openings all over the fossil71, whereas Cyathinema cup-structures with inner openings are one-sided. Possible xenophyophore fossils are known from younger Ediacaran units33,72, but only agglutinating forms. Cyathinema’s carbonaceous wall and regular arrangement of tubes render the xenophyophore affinity unlikely.

Cyathinema also shares morphology with elements of phosphatised fossil Eocyathispongia qiania from the Doushantuo Formation in China43, interpreted as the oldest sponge-grade body fossil. Chamber walls of Eocyathispongia consists of stacked, hollow tubes with occasionally open ends (Figs 4b–c, 5d–e43) that correspond in shape and size to Cyathinema tubes (5–8 μm wide). The authors compared cellular-level characters in Eocyathispongia to demosponge papillae used for nutrient uptake, or exhalent pores through which the choanocytes filter water43. Eocyathispongia is a complex taxon with unusual macro-morphology and few poriferan synapomorphies. Its demosponge affinity was recently questioned73 on the basis of minute overall size and insufficient available surface area for efficient filter-feeding. Although it is possible that such a small sponge could have also depended on protistan and bacterial (chemo- or photoautotrophic) symbionts for nutrients, the evidence for that relationship has not yet been found in these fossils. Among other stem-group and early sponge fossils73 most taxa seldom preserve cellular structures for direct comparison. Molecular clock estimates predict a Cryogenian origin of the Porifera62,74, which is supported by the biomarker record of steranes likely produced by demosponges75,76. Sponge body fossils on the other hand, are conspicuously absent from the Cryogenian–Ediacaran interval, and most of the poriferan fossil record in the Precambrian is problematic77,78. This missing record may be explained by a late invention of metazoan biomineralization, which is in agreement with demosponge-specific biomarkers in the Cryogenian75,76 (although see79). Demosponges can produce siliceous spicules, but many are soft-bodied (composed of collagen spongin or chitin80) and would have thus been less likely to leave a fossil record. The earliest possible biomineralizing/encrusting poriferan appeared in the terminal Ediacaran13. Regardless of its affinity, the external layer of cells in Eocyathispongia (Fig. 2a43) strongly resembles Cyathinema. The two fossils may be related, or represent the same problematicum, where each is preserved differently.

Additional analogous structures are present in modern Porifera. Arrangement of Cyathinema sheets is similar to the epithelial layer of extant demosponge larvae (Fig. S5h), e.g. Sycon coactum, Ircinia oros, and Halisarca dujardini (Figs 3.34a, 29a–b40, Fig. 1d42, Figs 3, 4a52). Tubes further resemble elongate inner cells of the stolon in an extremophilic demosponge Amphilectus lobatus (Fig. 6c,d41). Stolons are outgrowths produced by some species of Demospongiae, allowing them to crawl along the substrate41. A stolon-like function would explain the incompleteness of Cyathinema, yet there is no indication of the fossilization potential of stolon cells. Based on morphological comparison, Cyathinema may represent the epithelial layer or a stolon of a stem-group soft-bodied sponge, but until a complete specimen is found, affinity to other organisms with epithelium cannot be excluded.

Ostensibly, simple columnar epithelium in animals (Figs S5f,g) and the epithelial layer of Trichoplax adherens (Placozoa) also resemble the new fossils. Epithelial cells in cross-section (Fig. 3d81) correspond in shape and size to Cyathinema tubes, and terminate in concave structures. The appearance of cells between cross-section and three-dimensionally preserved microfossils may vary, but the apices of dorsal epithelial cells of Trichoplax (Fig. 1b81) are also similar to the reticulate appearance of Cyathinema under a transmitted light microscope. However, animal cells lack a wall that would facilitate their organic preservation.

Most characteristics of Cyathinema are shared by clades within multicellular red algae (Rhodophyta). Comparable taxa from the lower Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in China, which hosts numerous permineralized, pseudoparenchymatous multicellular organisms, are considerably larger than the Nyborg fossils, but possess an external layer of elongate cells ending in domed structures (Figs 4–5, 26, 41–428, Fig. 3c,d37, Fig. 3.382) that correspond in size and shape to Cyathinema. Arrangement of tubes terminating in “cups” giving the fossils a reticular appearance on one side is similar to the external layer of Wengania globosa8,82 and Thallophyca corrugata83, both of which have been assigned to Florideophyceae. The epithalloid layer of Doushantuo fossils was compared to the reproductive layer (spermatangia) present in modern florideophytes, e.g. Gracilaria37. Phylogenomic data and molecular clocks estimate the origin of Florideophyceae in the early Tonian84, so the presence of florideophyte algae in the Vestertana Group would be in concert with their antiquity. Younger fossil85 and modern red algae38, especially amongst order Corallinales (Fig. S5c,d; Fig. 6I–L86), also exhibit a thalloid construction with tubular cells in the external layer. Ancestral corallines and many younger red algae are crustose organisms, unlike Cyathinema which was originally soft-bodied, but the simple body plan of an external layer appears conserved across Florideophyceae. The inner opening of Cyathinema (Fig. 3f) is comparable to pit connections of red algae–holes between the walls of elongate cells, infilled by proteinaceous “pit plugs”87,88. Epithallial cells or their pits on the surface of Phymatolithon rugulosum (Fig. 4b–d88) contain an inner opening and their top cell wall may be intact or broken out, similar to Cyathinema cups and domed termini (Fig. 3b). Diploid multicellular stage (sporophyte) of the nemalialean alga Titanophycus validus (Florideophyceae) consists of tubular filaments terminating in dome-like gonimoblasts (Fig. 2.238) corresponding in size to Cyathinema tubes. Comparable construction of an outer layer fitting the dimensions of Cyathinema tubes, is also common in pores of the conceptacle (reproductive layer) of Lithothamnion steneckii (Figs 3a–d, 4a51,) and Osmundea spectabilis89. Interestingly, Osmundea’s epithallus produces trichoblast cells surrounded by a robust, bi-layered wall89. Its mucilage sacs contribute the material for wall-formation; a process which may promote successful organic preservation in shales, and thus could explain the preservation of Cyathinema outside exceptional circumstances. Also in agreement with red algal construction is the lumpy appearance of some tubes (Fig. 2b,d), which indicates they may have hosted multiple cells inside.

The oldest red algal fossil is Bangiomorpha pubecens90 from cherts of the Angmaat Formation, Canada, recently constrained to ~1048 Ma by rhenium–osmium geochronology91. Red algae possibly originated around 1.6 Ga, accepting an occurrence in the lower Vindhyan Supergroup, India92 (of questioned age91,93). Despite the group’s longevity, the Neoproterozoic record of red algae is sparse; they are known mainly from phosphorites of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, China8,37, with a single possible occurrence in the Cryogenian Taishir Formation, Mongolia94, while none were extracted from shales or siltstones. If red algal affinity is accepted for Cyathinema, the occurrence of their epithalli within shales demonstrates the feasibility for red algae to become preserved organically.

In sum, Cyathinema shares features with various clades, however due to the low preservation potential of choanoflagellates and slime molds, and its fragmented state, it is more likely that it represents a part of a larger entity, such as organisms with an epithelial layer (Fig. S5). A differentiated outer cell layer has evolved multiple times in various multicellular eukaryotes: red algae (called epithallus), brown algae (epidermis), metazoans (epithelium), fungi (hymenium/epidermis) (Fig. S7). The structure is likely polyphyletic, and its phylogenetic distribution among eukaryotes is little understood. Epithelial layer sensu lato is an organism’s outer layer of often tube-shaped cells (Fig. S5), used in overgrowth prevention, reproduction, gas exchange, or morphogenesis48,95. With a long Precambrian record and most shared characters, red algae are the most likely candidate for the affinity of Cyathinema, yet relationship to other epithelium-bearing organisms cannot be excluded. Regardless of its affinity, Cyathinema provides support for the presence of epithelial organisation by the late Neoproterozoic. An external layer of differentiated cells (epithallus/epithelium/epidermis) is present in various multicellular organisms (Fig. S7), and has been crucial for their diversification and expansion96. A fossil record of epithalli/epithelia may narrow down the timing of the establishment of cell polarity96.

Figure 6
figure 6

Schematic illustration of a set of stacked tubes of Cyathinema digermulense gen. et sp. nov. (a) individual tube terminating in a cup-shaped structure. A small, round opening inside the cup connects to the interior of the tube. (b) A stack of tubes of varying lengths. The “cups” and the closed, domed termini usually occur on the apical side of the fossil. This arrangement represents a single layer, in a way the fossils usually occur. Rare tubes that are distally closed are randomly distributed.

Full size image

Conclusions

The fossiliferous late Neoproterozoic sedimentary succession on the Digermulen Peninsula provides an opportunity to investigate the biosphere between turbulent end-Neoproterozoic glaciations. Unique carbonaceous fossils Cyathinema digermulense sp. et gen. nov. were recovered from the Nyborg Formation and represent remains of a multicellular eukaryote. It is characterised by stacked tubes ending in cup-like structures (Figs 2–3). The fossils are carbonaceous and preserved organically (Fig. 5). Cellular differentiation, fragmented state due to transport before burial, indicate the fossils were likely parts of a larger organism, and had a higher preservation potential than the rest of its components. The Nyborg fossils exhibit features of an external cell layer (epithelium/epithallus). Such a tissue would have benefitted the organism in a variety of ways: (1) avoidance of overgrowth or sedimentary disturbance, (2) fouling limitation, (3) reproduction, or (4) phagocytosis/filtration. Signs of cellular differentiation and epithalloid arrangement of Cyathinema suggest that the source organism was a complex and probably epibenthic eukaryote. Cyathinema resembles various extant and fossil groups: modern red algae38,48,88 and their fossils8,37, nematophytes64, putative Ediacaran sponge-grade fossils43, modern demosponge larvae40,41, colonial protists39,69 (Table S2). Most features are shared with red algae, but affinity to other epithelia-bearing groups cannot be excluded.

Considering the emergence of coeval fossils with epithallus-grade organisation36, as well as preservation and environmental context, Cyathinema likely represents the oldest organically-preserved organism with a layer of differentiated external cells outside of the windows of exceptional preservation, which improves the understanding of biological complexity in the early Ediacaran.

Methods

Samples D14-N1, D14-N2 and D16-HA-69 were collected from the Nyborg Formation outcrop south of Árasulluokta (N70°32.842′ E028°06.205′), and sample D16-HA-74 from the Guvssájohka valley section (N70°33.451′, E028°04.736′), as a part of Digermulen Early Life Research Group expeditions. Rock samples were collected 5 cm (D16-HA-69), 20 cm (D14-N1), 2 m (D14-N2), and 8 m (D16-HA-74) below the base of the Mortensnes diamictite. All samples were cleaned with 30% hydrochloric acid, then macerated in 40% hydrofluoric acid, following the modified palynological preparation method97. The residue was filtered through 10 and 25 μm meshes, rinsed with deionized water, and stored in acetone to prevent the growth of contaminants. Larger fossil fragments were picked from the residue with a micropipette (following the low-manipulation maceration method98). Thin sections (30 μm) were cut to check if the recovered organic fossils are syngeneic and not contamination. Microfossils were observed and imaged with Olympus BX50142 light microscope with an Olympus UC30 camera, as well as Zeiss Supra35VP Genesis 4000 and FEI Quanta 400 field emission scanning electron microscopes. Elemental analysis was performed using Genesis 4000 Cryospec EDAX (at 10 kV) attached to Zeiss Supra35VP SEM at Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University. Nicolet Magna 850 Raman Spectrometer at Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara was used to further assess fossils’ composition. Target area on the fossil was identified with a light microscope and excited using a green laser (λ = 532 nm) of low output power (25 mW) to minimize the damage to organic tissue. Rock samples and glass slides with mounted fossils are deposited in the palaeontological collection of the Arctic University Museum of Norway (UiT), prefix TSGf. The International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants is followed in description of a new taxon.