Projects per year
Abstract
Through exceptional preservation, we establish a phylogenetic connection between Ediacaran and Cambrian metazoans. We describe the first three-dimensional, pyritized soft tissue in Namacalathus from the Ediacaran Nama Group, Namibia, which follows the underlying form of a stalked, cup-shaped, calcitic skeleton, with six radially arranged lobes projecting into an apical opening and lateral lumens. A thick body wall and probable J-shaped gut are present within the cup, and the middle layer of the often-spinose skeleton and skeletal pores are selectively pyritized, supporting an organic-rich composition and tripartite construction with possible sensory punctae. These features suggest a total group lophotrochozoan affinity. These morphological data support molecular phylogenies and demonstrates that the origin of modern lophotrochozoan phyla, and their ability to biomineralize, had deep roots in the Ediacaran.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | eabf2933 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Science Advances |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2021 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Ediacaran metazoan reveals lophotrochozoan affinity and deepens root of Cambrian Explosion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
-
Resolving the enigmatic Precambrian-Cambrian boundary event (BACE)
Wood, R. (Principal Investigator)
1/10/20 → 30/09/23
Project: Research
Equipment
-
Experimental Geoscience Facility (EXG)
Butler, I. (Manager)
School of GeosciencesFacility/equipment: Facility
-
Optical Microscope Laboratory (MIC)
De Hoog, C.-J. (Manager)
School of GeosciencesFacility/equipment: Facility
-
Scanning Electron Microscope Facility (SEM)
Cayzer, N. (Manager)
School of GeosciencesFacility/equipment: Facility