Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

Journal of the Geological Society

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SEILACHER, A. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Vendobionta and Psammocorallia: lost constructions of Precambrian evolution

Geologisches Institut der Universität Tubingen, Sigwartstr. 10, 7400 Tübingen, Germany and Kline Geology Laboratory Yale University, POB 6666, New Haven, CT 06511, USA

The non-availability of biomineralized skeletons and low levels of predation led Vendian evolution along strange avenues. The Ediacara-type Vendobionta appear to represent a kingdom, in which foliate shapes, large sizes and the necessary compartmentalization were achieved by quilting of the skin rather than by multicellularity. Psammocorallia, in contrast, are interpreted as coelenterates that constructed an internal sand skeleton. Both were immobile soft-bottom dwellers that had high population densities, and both became preserved by obrutional accidents; thus they render ‘fossil snap shots’, in which the original distributional patterns, age structures and standing biomasses of populations are accurately recorded.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. McILROY, M. D. BRASIER, and A. S. LANG Smothering of microbial mats by macrobiota: implications for the Ediacara biota Journal of the Geological Society, December 1, 2009; 166(6): 1117 - 1121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Laflamme, S. Xiao, and M. Kowalewski From the Cover: Osmotrophy in modular Ediacara organisms PNAS, August 25, 2009; 106(34): 14438 - 14443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. M. NARBONNE, M. LAFLAMME, C. GREENTREE, and P. TRUSLER RECONSTRUCTING A LOST WORLD: EDIACARAN RANGEOMORPHS FROM SPANIARD'S BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND Journal of Paleontology, July 1, 2009; 83(4): 503 - 523. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. SHEN, S. XIAO, C. ZHOU, and X. YUAN YANGTZIRAMULUS ZHANGI NEW GENUS AND SPECIES, A CARBONATE-HOSTED MACROFOSSIL FROM THE EDIACARAN DENGYING FORMATION IN THE YANGTZE GORGES AREA, SOUTH CHINA Journal of Paleontology, July 1, 2009; 83(4): 575 - 587. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Brasier and J. B. Antcliffe Evolutionary relationships within the Avalonian Ediacara biota: new insights from laser analysis Journal of the Geological Society, March 1, 2009; 166(2): 363 - 384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Joeckel Enigmatic Structures in an Upper Pennsylvanian (Kasimovian) Marine Limestone Palaios, December 1, 2008; 23(12): 833 - 847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Zhu, J. G. Gehling, S. Xiao, Y. Zhao, and M. L. Droser Eight-armed Ediacara fossil preserved in contrasting taphonomic windows from China and Australia Geology, November 1, 2008; 36(11): 867 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. L. Bamforth, G. M. Narbonne, and M. M. Anderson Growth and Ecology of a Multi-branched Ediacaran Rangeomorph from the Mistaken Point Assemblage, Newfoundland Journal of Paleontology, July 1, 2008; 82(4): 763 - 777. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. HOFMANN, S. J. O'BRIEN, and A. F. KING EDIACARAN BIOTA ON BONAVISTA PENINSULA, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA Journal of Paleontology, January 1, 2008; 82(1): 1 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. Antcliffe and M. D. Brasier Charnia and sea pens are poles apart Journal of the Geological Society, January 1, 2007; 164(1): 49 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. F. Jenkins and C. Nedin The provenance and palaeobiology of a new multi-vaned, chambered frondose organism from the Ediacaran (later Neoproterozoic) of South Australia Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2007; 286(1): 195 - 222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Laflamme, G. M. Narbonne, C. Greentree, and M. M. Anderson Morphology and taphonomy of an Ediacaran frond: Charnia from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2007; 286(1): 237 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. MacGabhann, J. Murray, and C. Nicholas Ediacaria booleyi: weeded from the Garden of Ediacara? Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2007; 286(1): 277 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Savazzi A new reconstruction of Protolyellia (Early Cambrian psammocoral) Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2007; 286(1): 339 - 353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Tojo, R. Saito, S. Kawakami, and T. Ohno Theoretical morphology of quilt structures in Ediacaran fossils Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2007; 286(1): 399 - 404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.-G. Shu, S. C. Morris, J. Han, Y. Li, X.-L. Zhang, H. Hua, Z.-F. Zhang, J.-N. Liu, J.-F. Guo, Y. Yao, et al. Lower Cambrian vendobionts from china and early diploblast evolution. Science, May 5, 2006; 312(5774): 731 - 734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Xiao, B. Shen, C. Zhou, G. Xie, and X. Yuan A uniquely preserved Ediacaran fossil with direct evidence for a quilted bodyplan PNAS, July 19, 2005; 102(29): 10227 - 10232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. MCILROY, T. P. CRIMES, and J. C. PAULEY Fossils and matgrounds from the Neoproterozoic Longmyndian Supergroup, Shropshire, UK Geological Magazine, July 1, 2005; 142(4): 441 - 455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				THECTARDIS AVALONENSIS: A NEW EDIACARAN FOSSIL FROM THE MISTAKEN POINT BIOTA, NEWFOUNDLAND Journal of Paleontology, November 1, 2004; 78(6): 1031 - 1036.

				MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE EDIACARAN FROND CHARNIODISCUS FROM THE MISTAKEN POINT FORMATION, NEWFOUNDLAND Journal of Paleontology, September 1, 2004; 78(5): 827 - 837.

				G. M. Narbonne Modular Construction of Early Ediacaran Complex Life Forms Science, August 20, 2004; 305(5687): 1141 - 1144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Patterns of distribution in the Ediacaran biotas: facies versus biogeography and evolution Paleobiology, June 1, 2004; 30(2): 203 - 221.

				REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM: TESTING THE EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS OF EDIACARAN AND PALEOZOIC PROBLEMATIC FOSSILS USING MOLECULAR DIVERGENCE DATES Journal of Paleontology, January 1, 2004; 78(1): 51 - 61.

				Paleoecology of the oldest known animal communities: Ediacaran assemblages at Mistaken Point, Newfoundland Paleobiology, December 1, 2003; 29(4): 527 - 544.

				K. J. Peterson, B. Waggoner, and J. W. Hagadorn A Fungal Analog for Newfoundland Ediacaran Fossils? Integr. Comp. Biol., February 1, 2003; 43(1): 127 - 136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. M. Narbonne and J. G. Gehling Life after snowball: The oldest complex Ediacaran fossils Geology, January 1, 2003; 31(1): 27 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Droser, S. Jensen, and J. G. Gehling Trace fossils and substrates of the terminal Proterozoic-Cambrian transition: Implications for the record of early bilaterians and sediment mixing PNAS, October 1, 2002; 99(20): 12572 - 12576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.E. Clapham and G.M. Narbonne Ediacaran epifaunal tiering Geology, July 1, 2002; 30(7): 627 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Steiner and J. Reitner Evidence of organic structures in Ediacara-type fossils and associated microbial mats Geology, December 1, 2001; 29(12): 1119 - 1122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Kimura and Y. Watanabe Oceanic anoxia at the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary Geology, November 1, 2001; 29(11): 995 - 998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				How were vendobiont bodies patterned? Paleobiology, September 1, 2001; 27(3): 425 - 428.

				The hierarchical structure of organisms: a scale and documentation of a trend in the maximum Paleobiology, June 1, 2001; 27(2): 405 - 423.

				EARLY CAMBRIAN EDIACARAN-TYPE FOSSILS FROM CALIFORNIA Journal of Paleontology, July 1, 2000; 74(4): 731 - 740.

				S. Jensen, B. Z. Saylor, J. G. Gehling, and G. J. B. Germs Complex trace fossils from the terminal Proterozoic of Namibia Geology, February 1, 2000; 28(2): 143 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. BRASIER and D. McILROY Neonereites uniserialis from c. 600 Ma year old rocks in western Scotland and the emergence of animals Journal of the Geological Society, February 1, 1998; 155(1): 5 - 12. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. P. Grotzinger, S. A. Bowring, B. Z. Saylor, and A. J. Kaufman Biostratigraphic and Geochronologic Constraints on Early Animal Evolution Science, October 27, 1995; 270(5236): 598 - 604. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. CONWAY MORRIS Burgess Shale-type faunas in the context of the 'Cambrian explosion': a review Journal of the Geological Society, August 1, 1992; 149(4): 631 - 636. [Abstract] [PDF]