Fractofusus

E219028

Fractofusus is an extinct, frond-shaped organism from the late Ediacaran period, notable for its simple, quilted body plan and importance in understanding early multicellular life.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Fractofusus canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (40)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Ediacaran biota
extinct organism
rangeomorph
bodyPlan frond-shaped
quilted
communityRole abundant component of some Ediacaran communities
distribution Ediacaran biota
surface form: Avalon assemblage of the Ediacaran biota
ecologicalSignificance important for understanding early multicellular life
era Neoproterozoic Era
surface form: Neoproterozoic
extinctionStatus extinct
feedingMode osmotrophy (hypothesized)
firstDescribedFrom Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, Canada
fossilSite Avalon Peninsula
surface form: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland

Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve
fossilType impression fossil
geologicalAge Ediacaran Period
surface form: Ediacaran period
growthPattern self-similar modular branching
habitat deep-marine seafloor
kingdom incertae sedis
lifestyle benthic
mobility sessile
morphology multiple repeated branching units
spindle-shaped overall outline
preservationStyle soft-bodied organism preserved in volcanic ash or fine sediment
relatedTo Rangeomorphs
reproduction asexual reproduction (hypothesized)
propagule-based reproduction (hypothesized)
researchField Ediacaran paleoecology
evolution of multicellularity
paleobiology
scientificImportance model taxon for Ediacaran population ecology studies
used to infer reproductive strategies in Ediacaran organisms
used to study early complex ecosystems
sizeRange up to tens of centimeters in length
substrateRelationship lying on or within microbial mat
symmetry fractal-like branching
taphonomy preserved as negative epirelief impressions
taxonomicUncertainty phylogenetic affinity to modern groups unresolved
taxonRank genus
temporalRange late Ediacaran

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ediacaran biota includes Fractofusus