Deciphering voids in Dasycladales, the case of Dragastanella transylvanica, a new Lower Cretaceous triploporellacean genus from Romania

Dragastanella transylvanica n.gen. n.sp. is described. Its calcified skeleton contains numerous voids, partly related to the moulds of soft parts of the alga, but also to lack of calcification. Interpretation of these voids, especially their attribution to original structures (e.g., primary lateral vs. reproductive organ), has important implications for the taxonomic position of the alga, even at family level. Examination of key sections that include the boundary between sterile and fertile parts of the alga excludes the occurrence of external reproductive organs. Unusual, paired pores in the outer part of the mineralized skeleton reflect an asymmetry within the whorl, excluding the presence of secondary laterals. The alga is characterized by a cylindrical to club-shaped thallus bearing only phloiophorous primary laterals arranged in whorls and flaring outwards, forming a cortex. Mineralized lenticular reproductive organs containing cysts set in the equatorial plane (Russoella-type game...