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Stromatolite

Stromatolites
Image from M. Alan Kazlev
Stromatolites on the eoarean world Laetona (outer Cygexpa Volume)

Colonial aquatic, littoral, or semi-aquatic prokaryote or prokaryotoid, prokaryote-equivalant life form, one of the most common forms of macroscopic life in the galaxy. The colonies form large raised mounds, pillars, or pillows, with an outer layer of photosynthetic organisms, and concentric inner shells of deposited material.

The Terragen versions were colonies of blue-green algae that appeared along shorelines and in shallow water. Most abundant from about 3.5 to 2 billion years ago. Stromatolites do best in water-rich temperate to warm low-diversity carbon-based ecosystems such as are common in EuVenusian, EuGaian, and EuArean type planets.
 
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Development Notes
Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Initially published on 31 December 2001.

 
 
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