UC researcher discovers fossil of new conifer species

Abridged version in English: Diana Taborda

A researcher from the Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences (MARE) of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) has discovered a new conifer of the Cheirolepidiaceae family. The new species Pseudofrenelopsis zlatkoi was identified in flora from the Lower Cretaceous of Juncal, in the Leiria region, named as a tribute to Zlatko Kvaček, former professor of Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

According to Mário Miguel Mendes, researcher at MARE/UC, this new species is very similar to another cheirolepidiaceae, the Pseudofrenelopsis parceramosa, but is distinguished by a thinner cuticle, has expanded nodes and ribbed internodes. As he explains, "the Pseudofrenelopsis zlatkoi is characterised by having ridged internodes, and its morphology is mirrored in the layout of the epidermal structures, generally having ridges formed by elongated ordinary epidermal cells"

“The new species Pseudofrenelopsis zlatkoi belongs to an already extinct conifer family - Cheirolepidiaceae. The frenelopsids are extremely important because, along with the pollens they produce, attributed to the genus Classopollis, they provide very accurate environmental indicators, namely the existence of dry and arid environments", says the FCTUC scientist.

This research, centred on the study of the floras of the Portuguese Cretaceous in order to understand the floristic composition existing at that time and, subsequently, the palaeoclimatic conditions that led to the radiation and diversification of angiosperms. It is being carried out in partnership with various international institutions, namely the Swedish Museum of Natural History of Stockholm (Sweden), Aarhus University (Denmark), Yale University (USA) and the National Museum Prague (Czech Republic).

This study was funded by the international institutions involved, as well as by its R&D unit, MARE/ARNET of the University of Coimbra.