306 / Paleozoic
Tortotubus
Tortotubus protuberans
Branching microscopic hyphae show fungi helping to build the earliest soils.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 445–440 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Silurian
- Geographic range
- Damp terrestrial surfaces · Britain and Sweden
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Tortotubus?
Tortotubus (Tortotubus protuberans) was an extinct organism known from About 445–440 million years ago, with a range in Damp terrestrial surfaces · Britain and Sweden.
Life and ecology
Tortotubus decomposed organic material and threaded through cryptogamic ground cover.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Tortotubus disappear?
Early terrestrial fungi diversified and this particular morphology left the record.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Tortotubus?
Acid-extracted microfossils preserve walls, septa, branches and regenerative growth.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS