Taxonomic revision of Ediacaran tubular fossils: Cloudina, Sinotubulites and Conotubus

The Ediacaran tubular fossils, Cloudina, Sinotubulites, and Conotubus, are taxonomically revised with type materials. It is proposed that Aulophycus lucianoi Beurlen and Sommer, 1957 is not a senior synonym of Cloudina hartmannae Germs, 1972. Instead, most of its syntypes may be assigned to Sinotubulites or other taxa. Lectotypes of Sinotubulites baimatuoensis Chen et al., 1981 and Conotubus hemiannulatus Zhang and Lin, 1986 are designated from rediscovered syntypes. Sinotubulites baimatuoensis Chen et al., 1981 is reported from the Mooifontein Member of Nama Group at Aar Farm, Namibia. Cloudina waldei Hahn and Pflug, 1985 is assigned to Sinotubulites baimatuoensis and thus its occurrence range is extended to Brazil. The lectotype of Conotubus hemiannulatus shows corrugations and annulations on the surface distinguishing it from Cloudina and other collared Ediacaran tubular fossils. Based on the taxonomic revision, we propose a Cloudina hartmannae Interval Zone for the terminal Ediacara...