Rangeomorphs
E782940
Rangeomorphs are an extinct group of frond-like Ediacaran organisms characterized by highly branched, fractal body forms that represent some of the earliest complex multicellular life on Earth.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Rangeomorpha | 1 |
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Ediacaran biota
ⓘ
extinct organism group ⓘ frond-like organism ⓘ multicellular life form ⓘ |
| associatedEon | Neoproterozoic Eon GENERATED ⓘ |
| associatedSystem | Ediacaran System NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| bodyPlan |
modular branching units
ⓘ
self-similar branching pattern ⓘ |
| bodyTissue | soft-bodied ⓘ |
| complexity | among earliest complex multicellular organisms ⓘ |
| componentTaxa |
Beothukis
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Bradgatia NERFINISHED ⓘ Charniodiscus NERFINISHED ⓘ Fractofusus NERFINISHED ⓘ Rangea NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| discoveryContext | Ediacaran fossil assemblages ⓘ |
| distinctiveFeature | self-similar branching modules called rangeomorph units ⓘ |
| ecologicalRole | benthic organisms ⓘ |
| extinctionStatus | extinct ⓘ |
| feedingMode |
osmotrophy hypothesis
ⓘ
suspension feeding hypothesis ⓘ |
| firstAppearance | Ediacaran Period NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| fossilRecord | soft-bodied impressions ⓘ |
| geologicalAge | approximately 575–541 million years ago ⓘ |
| growthPattern | fractal-like iterative branching ⓘ |
| habitat |
deep-water settings
ⓘ
marine environment ⓘ |
| lifestyle | sessile ⓘ |
| morphology |
fractal body organization
ⓘ
frond-like body ⓘ highly branched structure ⓘ |
| notableLocality |
Charnwood Forest, England
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Ediacara Hills, South Australia NERFINISHED ⓘ Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, Canada NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| oxygenRequirementHypothesis | thrived in low-oxygen deep-marine settings ⓘ |
| phylogeneticPosition |
alternatively separate extinct clade
ⓘ
possibly stem-group animals ⓘ |
| preservation | Ediacara-type fossil preservation ⓘ |
| reproductionHypothesis | asexual propagation by stolons or fragmentation ⓘ |
| researchSignificance | key to understanding early evolution of complex life ⓘ |
| scientificStudy | paleontology ⓘ |
| sizeRange | centimeters to over one meter in length ⓘ |
| substrateAttachment | anchored to seafloor ⓘ |
| symmetry |
bilateral-like symmetry in some taxa
ⓘ
radial symmetry ⓘ |
| taxonomicAffinity | uncertain ⓘ |
| temporalRange | Ediacaran Period NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (2)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Rangeomorpha