Cyclomedusa

E219030

Cyclomedusa is a disc-shaped fossil organism from the Ediacaran period, interpreted as part of the early complex multicellular life that preceded the Cambrian explosion.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Cyclomedusa canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (43)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Ediacaran biota
disc-shaped fossil organism
fossil taxon
alternativeInterpretation possible holdfast structure of a frond-like organism
possible microbial colony or microbial mat-related structure
bodySymmetry radial symmetry
distribution cosmopolitan within Ediacaran assemblages
era Neoproterozoic Era
surface form: Neoproterozoic
firstDescribedBy Martin Glaessner NERFINISHED
firstDescriptionYear 1959
fossilRange Ediacaran Period
surface form: Ediacaran
fossilType macrofossil
foundIn Ediacara Hills, South Australia
island of Newfoundland
surface form: Newfoundland, Canada

White Sea coast
surface form: White Sea region, Russia

other Ediacaran fossil localities worldwide
geologicalPeriod Ediacaran Period
surface form: Ediacaran
hasUncertainAffinityWith Cnidaria
algae
microbial structures
importance evidence for pre-Cambrian complex life
key taxon in discussions of Ediacaran ecology
interpretation early complex multicellular life
possible benthic organism distinct from modern animal phyla
kingdom incertae sedis
lifestyleHypothesis benthic organism
sessile organism
morphology circular disc-shaped body
concentric ring structures
radial markings
paleoenvironment marine seafloor
shallow marine settings
precededEvent Cambrian explosion
preservation impression fossil in sandstone or siltstone
relatedTo Aspidella
other discoidal Ediacaran fossils
scientificDebate phylogenetic placement remains unresolved
scientificField Ediacaran biota
surface form: Ediacaran paleobiology

paleontology
sizeRange a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter
taphonomy preserved as shallow impressions on bedding planes
taxonomicStatus problematic fossil
usedAs biostratigraphic indicator for Ediacaran strata

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 Cyclomedusa