Aulozoon (lit. "Tube/pipe animal" in Greek) is a genus of Ediacaran organism, known only from the Rawnsley Quartzite in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The organism is interpreted to have been sessile and upright in the water column, living in communities.
Specimens were first found from deposits in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and are exclusive to the Rawnsley Quartzite of the Flinders. Though, the fossil structures had been known, Aulozoon wasn't formally described until recently, due to contradicting interpretations of the form, which was argued to have been burrows.
Description
Lengths of Aulozoon range from 2.49 cm to 59.08 cm, although, none of the specimens preserve a complete individual.
Morphology
Examples of Aulozoon fossils demonstrate a large, tubular form; characterized by a smooth body wall, and broad cylindrical morphology. A holdfast at the base of the Aulozoon body, indicates a sessile, benthic position, where the holdfast was anchored under the mat-sediment interface. Identification of a holdfast, and upright lifestyle, provides evidence for the organism having a fluid-filled body cavity, providing buoyancy in the water column.
Aulozoon rarely occurs as isolated individuals, instead are most commonly in populations of two or more. Where they do occur, they are never the most abundant taxon preserved. Overlapping of Aulozoon individuals is common, and highly sinuous individuals can self-overlap.
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