TERMIUM Plus^®

Record 1,  Textual support,  English

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF

A (usually fossil) organism of uncertain relationships.  3, record 1, English, - problematicum

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT

Permian reefs were mainly constructed by organisms referred to as problematica, calcareous algae, bryozoans, echinoderms, and calcareous sponges. Problematica (or, in this case, microproblematica because of their small size) are enigmatic organisms which are hard to classify because they do not seem to have left any clear descendants (or even close relatives) whose activities and remains might provide clues to their ancestors' identity. These enigmatic organisms are therefore known to paleontologists as problematica (problematicum is the singular form) for their problematic relation to other living things. (Generally speaking, the farther back in time we look, the more problematica there are, because many extinct organisms have no clear descendants.  4, record 1, English, - problematicum

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT

Where question exists as to the organic or inorganic origin of a specimen, the terms dubiofossil ..., problematicum ..., or problematic fossil are used.  5, record 1, English, - problematicum

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS

problematicum (pl. problematica): While in theory almost any organism could be labelled a problematicum under [the given] definition (almost every species has some degree of uncertainty about its relationships, even if only within its genus), in practice the term is generally reserved for those taxa for which the uncertainty runs to a very high level, generally phylum level or higher. Also, this uncertainty generally should not be due to poor preservation alone, but reflect a true shortage of shared characters with modern phyla.  3, record 1, English, - problematicum

Record 1,  Textual support,  French

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF

Objet ayant l'air d'un fossile mais dont on ne peut certifier l'origine organique.  3, record 1, French, - fossile%20probl%C3%A9matique

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT

Ces problematica du Paléogène ont une taille de l'ordre de 0,15 à 0,5 mm.  4, record 1, French, - fossile%20probl%C3%A9matique

Record 1,  Textual support,  Spanish