- Palynomorph
Palynomorph is the geological term used to describe a particle of a size between five and 500 micrometres, found in rock deposits (
sedimentary rock s) and composed of organic material such aschitin ,pseudochitin andsporopollenin . The word is derived from Greek, meaning "strewn or sprinkled forms."Palynology is the study of palynomorphfossils and can be considered a subdiscipline ofmicropaleontology orpaleobotany . Expressed more simply, palynology is the study of organicmicrofossils .Palynomorphs form a
geological record of importance in determining the type ofprehistoric life that existed at the time the sedimentary formation was laid down. As a result, these microfossils give important clues to the prevailing climatic conditions of the time. Their paleontological utility derives from an abundance numbering in millions of cells per gram in organic marine deposits, even when such deposits are generally notfossiliferous . Palynomorphs, however, generally have been destroyed inmetamorphic or recrystallized rocks.Typically, palynomorphs are
dinoflagellate s,acritarch s,spore s,pollen ,fungi ,scolecodonts (scleroprotein teeth, jaws and associated features of polychaeteannelid ) worms,arthropod organs (such asinsect -mouth parts), chitinozoans and microforams.
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