This is a list of all described Ediacaran genera, including the Ediacaran biota. It contains 246 genera.
Name | Authors | Year | Affinity | Validity | Notes | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Affinovendia [1] | Sokolov | 1984 | Reinterpretated as trace fossil Treptichnus lublinensis and Cambrian in age | Russia | ||
Albumares [2] [3] | Fedonkin | 1976 | Trilobozoa | Russia | ||
Alienum [4] | Liu et al. | 2024 | Vetulicolia? | China | ||
Amorphia [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Anabylia [6] | Vodanjuk | 1989 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Andiva [7] | Fedonkin | 2002 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Anfesta [8] | Fedonkin | 1984 | Trilobozoa | Russia | ||
Annulatubus [9] | Calla A. Carbone et al. | 2015 | Canada | |||
Annulusichnus [10] | Zhang | 1986 | Junior synonym of Gaojiashania , tubular fossil | China | ||
Arborea [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Petalonamae | Was considered a junior synonym of Charniodiscus, now thought to be a colonial Eumetazoan unrelated to Rangeomorphs [12] | Australia | |
Archaeaspinus [13] | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Archaeichnium [14] | Glaessner | 1963 | Tubular conical fossil | Namibia | ||
Archangelia [3] [15] | Fedonkin | 1979 | Bilaterally symmetric organism with ovoid shape, and midline axial zone. Junior synonym of Onegia nenoxa (according to Grazhdankin, Ph.D. ms.). [16] [17] | Russia | ||
Arimasia [18] | Runnegar et al. | 2024 | Porifera | Early sponge, possibly a member of Archaeocyatha | Namibia | |
Arkarua [19] | Gehling | 1987 | Echinodermata? | Has 5-sided symmetry similar to modern echinoderms | Australia | |
Armillifera [3] [20] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Arumberia [21] | Glaessner et Walter | 1975 | Australia | |||
Askinica [22] | Bekker | 1996 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Aspidella [23] [24] | Billings | 1872 | Biradial discoid fossil | Canada | ||
Astra [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Atakia [25] | Palij | 1979 | Ukraine | |||
Attenborites [26] | Droser et al. | 2018 | Australia | |||
Auroralumina [27] | Dunn et al. | 2022 | Cnidaria | United Kingdom | ||
Ausia [28] | Hahn et Pflug | 1985 | Namibia | |||
Avalofractus [29] | Narbonne, Laflamme, Greentree et Trusler | 2009 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Aviculaichnus [30] | Grytsenko | 2009 | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | Ukraine | ||
Baikalina [31] [32] | Sokolov | 1972 | Junior synonym of Ernietta | Russia | ||
Barmia [22] | Bekker | 1996 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Beltanella [33] | Sprigg | 1947 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Beltanelliformis [34] | Menner | 1974 | Cyanobacterial colony | Discoid fossil | Russia | |
Beltanelloides [31] [32] | Sokolov | 1972 | Nomen nudum, synonym of Beltanelliformis | Russia | ||
Beothukis [35] | Brasier et Antcliffe | 2009 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Bernashevia [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Bessarabia [36] | Gureev | 1988 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Bilinichnus [15] | Fedonkin et Palij | 1979 | Trace fossil | Trace fossil or pseudofossil | Russia | |
Blackbrookia [37] | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structure | UK | ||
Bomakellia [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Possible junior synonym of Rangea | Russia | ||
Bonata [20] [39] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Russia | |||
Brachina [40] | Wade | 1972 | Australia | |||
Bradgatia [37] | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | Petalonamae | UK | ||
Bronicella [41] | Zaika-Novatsky | 1965 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Buchholzbrunnichnus [42] | Germs | 1973 | Namibia | |||
Bunyerichnus [43] | Glaessner | 1969 | Pseudofossil [44] | Australia | ||
Burykhia [45] | Fedonkin, Vickers-Rich, Swalla, Trusler et Hall | 2012 | Tunicata? | Russia | ||
Calyptrina [46] | Sokolov | 1965 | Annelida? | Tubular fossil | Russia | |
Catellichnus [47] | Bekker | 1989 | Palaeopascichnid | Russia | ||
Catenasphaerophyton [48] | Yan et al. | 1992 | Palaeopascichnid | China | ||
Cephalonega [2] | Fedonkin | 1976 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Charnia [49] | Ford | 1958 | Petalonamae | UK | ||
Charniodiscus [49] | Ford | 1958 | Petalonamae | UK | ||
Chondroplon [50] | Wade | 1971 | Probably a junior synonym of Dickinsonia | Australia | ||
Cloudina [51] | Germs | 1972 | Annelida? | Tubular fossil | Namibia | |
Cocardia [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Conomedusites [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Cnidaria? | Australia | ||
Conotubus [10] [52] | Zhang et Lin | 1986 | Tubular fossil | China | ||
Coronacollina [53] | Clites, Droser et Gehling | 2012 | Porifera? | Australia | ||
Corumbella [54] | Hahn, Hahn, Leonardos, Pflug et Walde | 1982 | Tubular fossil | Brazil | ||
Costatubus [55] | Selly et al. | 2020 | Tubular fossil | USA | ||
Cyanorus [56] | Ivantsov | 2004 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Cyclomedusa [33] | Sprigg | 1947 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Dactyloichnus [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Dickinsonia [33] | Sprigg | 1947 | Proarticulata | Australia | ||
Ediacaria [33] | Sprigg | 1947 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Elainabella [57] | Stephen M. Rowland and Margarita G. Rodriguez | 2014 | Viridiplantae? | Multicellular alga | USA | |
Elasenia [58] | Fedonkin | 1983 | Ukraine | |||
Eoandromeda [59] | Tang, Yin, Bengtson, Liu, Wang et Gao | 2008 | Ctenophora? | China | ||
Eocyathispongia [60] | Zongjun Yin et al. | 2015 | Porifera? | Small 3 chambered sponge-like organism | China | |
Eoporpita [40] | Wade | 1972 | Australia | |||
Epibaion [61] | Ivantsov | 2002 | Trace fossil | Grazing traces of Proarticulata | Russia | |
Ernietta [62] [63] | Pflug | 1966 | Petalonamae | Namibia | ||
Evmiaksia [8] | Fedonkin | 1984 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Fedomia [64] | Serezhnikova et Ivantsov | 2007 | Porifera? | Russia | ||
Flavostratum [65] | Serezhnikova | 2013 | Russia | |||
Fractofusus [66] [67] | Gehling et Narbonne | 2007 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Frondophyllas | Bamforth et Narbonne | 2009 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Funisia [68] | Droser et Gehling | 2008 | Tubular fossil | Australia | ||
Finkoella [69] | Andrej Martyshyn | 2021 | F. ucrainica is a Pseudofossil, however F. oblonga is of microbial origin | Ukraine | ||
Ganarake [70] | Retallack | 2022 | Lichen? | First interpreted as tubestones, now thought to be earliest preserved remains of a Lichen | USA | |
Gaojiashania [10] [71] | Yang, Zhang et Lin | 1986 | Annelida? | Tubular fossil | China | |
Garania [22] | Bekker | 1996 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Gehlingia [72] | McMenamin | 1998 | Australia | |||
Gibbavasis [73] | Vaziri, Majidifard et Laflamme | 2018 | Tunicata? | Small, oval-shaped form similar to Ausia fenestrata | Iran | |
Gigarimaneta [74] | Taylor et al. | 2021 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Glaessnerina [75] | Germs | 1973 | Junior synonym of Charnia | Australia | ||
Gureevella | Menasova | 2006 | Ukraine | |||
Hadrynichorde | Hofmann, O'Brien, et King | 2008 | Canada | |||
Hagenetta [76] | Hahn et Pflug | 1988 | Junior synonym of Beltanelliformis | Namibia | ||
Hallidaya | Wade | 1969 | Trilobozoa | Australia | ||
Haootia | Liu et al. | 2014 | Cnidaria | Canada | ||
Harlaniella [31] [32] [77] | Sokolov | 1972 | Vendotaenid | Tubular fossil | Ukraine | |
Hapsidophyllas | Bamforth et Narbonne | 2009 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Helicolocellus [78] | Wang et al. | 2024 | Porifera | Likely a hexactinellid | China | |
Hiemalora [79] | Fedonkin | 1982 | Russia | |||
Hylaecullulus [80] | Kenchington, Dunn & Wilby | 2018 | Petalonamae | Multifoliate Petalonamid similar to Primocandelabrum and Bradgatia. | UK | |
Ichnusa | Debrenne et Naud | 1981 | Cnidaria | Italy | ||
Ikaria | Evans et al. | 2020 | Stem-bilateran | Australia | ||
Inaria | Gehling | 1987 | Australia | |||
Inkrylovia | Fedonkin | 1979 | Junior synonym of Onegia | Russia | ||
Intrites [20] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Palaeopascichnid | Russia | ||
Irridinitus [58] | Fedonkin | 1983 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Ivesheadia [37] | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structure | UK | ||
Ivovicia [13] | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Jampolium [36] | Gureev | 1988 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Kaisalia [8] | Fedonkin | 1984 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Karakhtia [81] | Ivantsov | 2004 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Keretsa [82] | Ivantsov | 2017 | Russia | |||
Khatyspytia [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Russia | |||
Kimberella [11] [40] [83] [84] | Glaessner & Wade | 1966 | Mollusca? | Australia | ||
Kimberichnus [85] | Ivantsov | 2013 | Trace fossil | Grazing traces of Kimberella | Russia | |
Komarovia [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Not to be confused with Komarovia, extant genus of flowering plant. | Ukraine | ||
Kuibisia [28] | Hahn et Pflug | 1985 | Namibia | |||
Kuckaraukia [86] | Razumovskiy, Ivantsov, Novikov et Korochantsev | 2015 | Russia | |||
Lamonte [87] | Meyer, Xiao, Gill, Schiffbauer, Chen, Zhou et Yuan | 2014 | Trace fossil | China | ||
Lantianella [88] | Wan et al. | 2016 | Putative animal, bears similarities to conulariids | China | ||
Lobodiscus [89] | Zhao et al. | 2024 | Trilobozoa | China | ||
Lomoziella [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Lomosovis [58] | Fedonkin | 1983 | Ukraine | |||
Lorenzinites [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Junior synonym of Rugoconites | Australia | ||
Lossinia [13] | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Madigania [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Not Madigania (Whitley, 1945), replaced by the Spriggia | Australia | ||
Mamsetia [91] | McIlroy et al. | 2024 | Cnidaria | Canada | ||
Margaritiflabellum | Ivantsov | 2014 | Russia | |||
Marywadea [92] | Glaessner | 1976 | Proarticulata | Australia | ||
Mawsonites [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Australia | |||
Medusina [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Not Medusina (Walcott, 1898), replaced by the Medusinites | Australia | ||
Medusinites [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Medvezichnus [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Trace fossil | Unique specimen of doubtful nature | Russia | |
Mezenia [93] [94] | Sokolov | 1976 | Russia | |||
Mialsemia [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Junior synonym of Bomakellia (or Rangea ) | Russia | ||
Nadalina | Narbonne et Hofmann | 1987 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Canada | ||
Namacalathus [95] | Grotzinger, Watters, et Knoll | 2000 | Namibia | |||
Namalia | Germs | 1968 | Namibia | |||
Namamedusium | Zessin | 2008 | Junior synonym of Beltanelliformis | Namibia | ||
Namapoikia | Wood, Grotzinger et Dickson | 2002 | Namibia | |||
Nasepia [75] | Germs | 1973 | Namibia | |||
Nemiana | Palij | 1976 | Junior synonym of Beltanelliformis | Ukraine | ||
Nenoxites | Fedonkin | 1976 | Russia | |||
Nilpenia [96] | Droser et al. | 2014 | Australia | |||
Nimbia [20] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Russia | |||
Noffkarkys [97] | Retallack and Broz | 2020 | Australia | |||
Obamus | Dzaugis, Evans, Droser, Gehling et Hughes | 2018 | Australia | |||
Olgerdina [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Onegia [93] | Sokolov | 1976 | Russia | |||
Orbisiana [93] | Sokolov | 1976 | Palaeopascichnid | Russia | ||
Orthogonium [98] [99] [100] | Gürich | 1930 | Namibia | |||
Otavia [101] | Brain et al. | 2012 | Porifera? | Namibia | ||
Ovatoscutum [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Proarticulata | Australia | ||
Palaeopascichnus [102] | Palij | 1976 | Palaeopascichnid | Ukraine | ||
Palaeophragmodictya [103] | Gehling et Rigby | 1996 | Australia | |||
Palaeospinther [104] | Menasova | 2003 | Ukraine | |||
Palaeoplatoda [105] | Fedonkin | 1979 | Russia | |||
Paliella [20] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia | ||
Pambikalbae | Jenkins et Nedin | 2007 | Australia | |||
Papillionata [33] | Sprigg | 1947 | Proarticulata | Junior synonym of Dickinsonia | Australia | |
Paracharnia | Sun | 1986 | China | |||
Paramedusium [98] [99] [100] | Gürich | 1933 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Namibia | ||
Paravendia [56] | Ivantsov | 2004 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Parvancorina [106] | Glaessner | 1958 | Australia | |||
Parviscopa | Hofmann, O'Brien et King | 2008 | Canada | |||
Pectinifrons [107] | Bamforth, Narbonne et Anderson | 2008 | Canada | |||
Persimedusites | Hahn et Pflug | 1980 | Iran | |||
Petalostoma | Pflug | 1973 | Rejected as valid taxon | Namibia | ||
Phyllozoon | Jenkins et Gehlig | 1978 | Proarticulata | Australia | ||
Piyuania [88] | Wan et al. | 2016 | Putative animal, bears similarities to Cnidaria | China | ||
Planomedusites [32] | Sokolov | 1972 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Platypholinia [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Russia | |||
Plexus [108] | Joel, Droser & Gehling | 2014 | Bilateria | Although more studies are needed, it has been identified as bilaterian. | Australia | |
Podolimirus [58] | Fedonkin | 1983 | Proarticulata | Ukraine | ||
Podoliina | Gureev | 1988 | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | Ukraine | ||
Pollukia | Gureev | 1987 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Pomoria | Fedonkin | 1980 | Junior synonym of Tribrachidium | Russia | ||
Praecambridium [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Proarticulata | Australia | ||
Primocandelabrum | Hofmann, O'Brien et King | 2008 | Canada | |||
Propalaeolina | Menasova | 2006 | Tubular fossil | Ukraine | ||
Protechiurus [109] | Glaessner | 1979 | Namibia | |||
Protodipleurosoma [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Protoniobea [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Pseudohiemaloraichnus | Grytsenko | 2009 | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | Ukraine | ||
Pseudorhizostomites [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Problematic biogenic structure | Australia | ||
Pseudorhopilema [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Junior synonym of Pseudorhizostomites | Australia | ||
Pseudovendia [110] | Boynton et Ford | 1979 | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structures | UK | ||
Pteridinium [98] | Gürich | 1933 | Petalonamae | Namibia | ||
Qianchuania [88] | Wan et al. | 2016 | Putative animal, bears similarities to Cnidaria | China | ||
Quaestio [111] | Evans et al. | 2024 | Australia | |||
Ramellina [20] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Russia | |||
Rangea [98] [99] [100] | Gürich | 1929 | Petalonamae | Namibia | ||
Redkinia | Sokolov | 1977 | Russia | |||
Rugoconites [11] | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Australia | |||
Saarina | Sokolov | 1965 | Tubular fossil | Russia | ||
Seirisphaera | Chen, Xiao et Yuan | 1996 | Palaeopascichnid | Junior synonym of Orbisiana | China | |
Sekwia | Hofmann | 1981 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Canada | ||
Sekwitubulus [9] | Calla A. Carbone et al. | 2015 | Tubular fossil | Canada | ||
Serebrina | Istchenko | 1983 | Ukraine | |||
Shaanxilithes | Xing, Yue et Zhang | 1984 | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | China | ||
Shepshedia [37] | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structure | UK | ||
Sinotubulites | Chen, Chen et Qian | 1981 | Tubular fossil | China | ||
Skinnera | Wade | 1969 | Trilobozoa | Australia | ||
Skolithos declinatus [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Trace fossil | Russia | ||
Solza [81] | Ivantsov | 2004 | Russia | |||
Somatohelix [112] | Sappenfield, Droser et Gehling | 2011 | Tubular fossil | Australia | ||
Spriggia [113] | Southcott | 1958 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Spriggina [106] | Glaessner | 1958 | Proarticulata | Australia | ||
Staurinidia [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Russia | |||
Stellaria [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Not to be confused with Stellaria, extant genus of flowering plant. | Ukraine | ||
Streptichnus [114] | Jensen et Runnegar | 2005 | Vendotaenid [115] or Trace fossil | Namibia | ||
Studenicia [116] | Gureev | 1983 | Putative Monocraterion trace fossil | Ukraine | ||
Suzmites | Fedonkin | 1981 | Junior synonym of Onegia [ citation needed ] | Russia | ||
Swartpuntia [117] | Narbonne, Saylor et Grotzinger | 1997 | Petalonamae | Namibia | ||
Tamga [13] | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Tateana [90] | Sprigg | 1949 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia | ||
Temnoxa [81] | Ivantsov | 2004 | Mollusca? | Russia | ||
Thectardis [118] | Clapham, Narbonne, Gehling, Greentree et Anderson | 2004 | Porifera? | Canada | ||
Tirasiana [3] | Palij | 1976 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Trepassia [29] | Narbonne, Laflamme, Greentree et Trusler | 2009 | Petalonamae | Canada | ||
Tribrachidium [119] | Glaessner | 1959 | Trilobozoa | Australia | ||
Triforillonia [120] | Gehling, Narbonne et Anderson | 2000 | Deformed Aspidella | Canada | ||
Uncus [121] | Hughes, Evans, Droser | 2024 | Ecdysozoa | Possible stem nematoid | Australia | |
Vaizitsinia | Sokolov et Fedonkin | 1981 | Junior synonym of Rangea | Russia | ||
Valdainia [58] | Fedonkin | 1983 | Proarticulata | Ukraine | ||
Vaveliksia [58] | Fedonkin | 1983 | Porifera? | Ukraine | ||
Velancorina [62] | Pflug | 1966 | Namibia | |||
Vendella [122] | Gureev | 1987 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine | ||
Vendia | Keller | 1969 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Vendichnus | Fedonkin | 1979 | Possible pseudofossil | Russia | ||
Vendoconularia [123] | Ivantsov et Fedonkin | 2002 | Conulata | Russia | ||
Vendoglossa | Seilacher | 2007 | Junior synonym of Protechiurus [124] | Namibia | ||
Vendomia [2] | Keller | 1976 | Proarticulata | Junior synonym of Dickinsonia | Russia | |
Vendomyces [125] | M. B. Burzin | 1993 | Chytridiomycetes | Russia | ||
Vendotaenia | Gnilovskaya | 1971 | Vendotaenid | Tubular fossil | Russia | |
Ventogyrus | Ivantsov et Grazhdankin | 1997 | Ctenophora? | Russia | ||
Veprina [20] | Fedonkin | 1980 | Russia | |||
Vernanimalcula | Chen J. Y | 2004 | China | |||
Vimenites | Fedonkin | 1980 | Russia | |||
Vinlandia [126] | Brasier, Antcliffe et Liu | 2012 | Canada | |||
Virgatia [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Vladimissa [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Russia | |||
Wigwamiella | Runnegar | 1991 | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters. Regarded as a taphomorph of Aspidella or junior synonym for Pseudorhizostomites [127] | Australia | ||
Windermeria [128] | Narbonne | 1994 | Proarticulata | Canada | ||
Wutubus [129] | Chen, Zhou, Xiao, Wang, Guan, Hong et Yuan | 2014 | Tubular fossil | China | ||
Yangtziramulus [130] | Shen, Xiao, Zhou et Yuan | 2009 | China | |||
Yarnemia [131] | Nesov in Chistyakov et al. | 1984 | Tunicata? | Russia | ||
Yelovichnus [38] | Fedonkin | 1985 | Palaeopascichnid | Junior synonym of Palaeopascichnus | Russia | |
Yorgia [132] | Ivantsov | 1999 | Proarticulata | Russia | ||
Yilingia [133] | Xiao et al. | 2020 | Bilateria | China | ||
Yuria [5] | Grytsenko | 2016 | Ukraine | |||
Zolotytsia [3] | Fedonkin | 1981 | Russia |
The Ediacaran is a geological period of the Neoproterozoic Era that spans 96 million years from the end of the Cryogenian Period at 635 Mya to the beginning of the Cambrian Period at 538.8 Mya. It is the last period of the Proterozoic Eon as well as the last of the so-called "Precambrian supereon", before the beginning of the subsequent Cambrian Period marks the start of the Phanerozoic Eon, where recognizable fossil evidence of life becomes common.
Dickinsonia is a genus of extinct organism, most likely an animal, that lived during the late Ediacaran period in what is now Australia, China, Russia, and Ukraine. It is one of the best known members of the Ediacaran biota. The individual Dickinsonia typically resembles a bilaterally symmetrical ribbed oval. Its affinities are presently unknown; its mode of growth has been considered consistent with a stem-group bilaterian affinity, though various other affinities have been proposed. It lived during the late Ediacaran. The discovery of cholesterol molecules in fossils of Dickinsonia lends support to the idea that Dickinsonia was an animal, though these results have been questioned.
Kimberella is an extinct genus of bilaterian known only from rocks of the Ediacaran period. The slug-like organism fed by scratching the microbial surface on which it dwelt in a manner similar to the gastropods, although its affinity with this group is contentious.
Tribrachidium heraldicum is a tri-radially symmetric fossil animal that lived in the late Ediacaran (Vendian) seas. In life, it was hemispherical in form. T. heraldicum is the best known member of the extinct group Trilobozoa.
Spriggina is a genus of early animals whose relationship to living animals is unclear. Fossils of Spriggina are known from the late Ediacaran period in what is now South Australia. Spriggina floundersi is the official fossil emblem of South Australia; it has been found nowhere else.
Yorgia waggoneri is a discoid Ediacaran organism. It has a low, segmented body consisting of a short wide "head", no appendages, and a long body region, reaching a maximum length of 25 cm (9.8 in). It is classified within the extinct animal phylum Proarticulata.
Cephalonega stepanovi is a fossil organism from Ediacaran deposits of the Arkhangelsk Region, Russia. It was described by Mikhail A. Fedonkin in 1976
Rangea is a frond-like Ediacaran fossil with six-fold radial symmetry. It is the type genus of the rangeomorphs.
Parvancorina is a genus of shield-shaped bilaterally symmetrical fossil animal that lived in the late Ediacaran seafloor. It has some superficial similarities with the Cambrian trilobite-like arthropods.
Trilobozoa is a phylum of extinct, sessile animals that were originally classified into the Cnidaria. The basic body plan of trilobozoans is often a triradial or radial sphere-shaped form with lobes radiating from its centre. Fossils of trilobozoans are restricted to marine strata of the Late Ediacaran period.
Praecambridium sigillum is an extinct organism that superficially resembles a segmented trilobite-like arthropod. It was originally described as being a trilobite-like arthropod, though the majority of experts now place it within the Proarticulata as a close relative of the much larger Yorgia. It is from the Late Ediacaran deposit of Ediacara Hills, Australia, about 555 million years ago. On average, P. sigillum had at least 5 pairs of segments, with each unit becoming progressively larger as they approach the cephalon-like head.
Ovatoscutum concentricum is one of many enigmatic organisms known from the Ediacaran deposits of the Flinders Ranges, Australia, and the White Sea area in Russia, dating around 555 Ma.
The Ediacaranbiota is a taxonomic period classification that consists of all life forms that were present on Earth during the Ediacaran Period. These were enigmatic tubular and frond-shaped, mostly sessile, organisms. Trace fossils of these organisms have been found worldwide, and represent the earliest known complex multicellular organisms. The term "Ediacara biota" has received criticism from some scientists due to its alleged inconsistency, arbitrary exclusion of certain fossils, and inability to be precisely defined.
Albumares brunsae is a tri-radially symmetrical fossil animal that lived in the late Ediacaran seafloor. It is a member of the extinct group Trilobozoa.
Proarticulata is a proposed phylum of extinct, near-bilaterally symmetrical animals known from fossils found in the Ediacaran (Vendian) marine deposits, and dates to approximately 567 to 550 million years ago. The name comes from the Greek προ = "before" and Articulata, i.e. prior to animals with true segmentation such as annelids and arthropods. This phylum was established by Mikhail A. Fedonkin in 1985 for such animals as Dickinsonia, Vendia, Cephalonega, Praecambridium and currently many other Proarticulata are described.
Rugoconites is a genus of Ediacaran biota found as fossils in the form of a circular or oval-like impression preserved in high relief, six or more centimeters in diameter. The fossils are surrounded by frills that have been interpreted as sets of tentacles. The bifurcating radial ribs, spreading from a central dome, serve to distinguish this genus from the sponge Palaeophragmodictya, and may represent the channels of the gastrovascular system. Fossils of Rugoconites have been interpreted as early sponges, although this is countered by Sepkoski et al. (2002), who interpreted the organism as a free-swimming jellyfish-like cnidarian; similar to Ovatoscutum. However, the fossil is consistently preserved as a neat circular form and its general morphology does not vary, therefore a benthic and perhaps slow-moving or sessile lifestyle is more likely. Ivantstov & Fedonkin (2002), suggest that Rugoconites may possess tri-radial symmetry and be a member of the Trilobozoa.
Ediacaran type preservation relates to the dominant preservational mode in the Ediacaran period, where Ediacaran organisms were preserved as casts on the surface of microbial mats.
Andiva ivantsovi is a Vendian fossil, identified to be a bilaterian triploblastic animal in the Ediacaran phylum Proarticulata, known from the Winter Coast, White Sea, Russia. It was first discovered in 1977, and described as a new species in a new genus by Mikhail Fedonkin in 2002. It lived about 555 million years ago. Fossils of Andiva also occur in South Australia. All known fossils of Andiva are external molds.
The petalonamids (Petalonamae) are an extinct group of archaic animals typical of the Ediacaran biota, also called frondomorphs, dating from approximately 635 million years ago to 516 million years ago. They are benthic and motionless animals, that have the shape of leaves, fronds (frondomorphic), feathers or spindles and were initially considered algae, octocorals or sea pens. It is now believed that there are no living descendants of the group, which shares a probable relation to the Ediacaran animals known as Vendozoans.
Cephalozoa are an extinct class of primitive segmented marine organisms within the Phylum Proarticulata from the Ediacaran period. They possessed bilateral symmetry and were characterized by a thin, rounded body.
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