Octoradiate Spiral Organisms in the Ediacaran of South China

• Published in: 地质学报（英文版） Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 27 - 34
• Main Authors: TANG Feng, YIN Chongyu, Stefan BENGTSON, LIU Pengju, WANG Ziqiang, GAO Linzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Key Laboratory of Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences,Beijing 100037, China%Department of Palaeozoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-10405,Stockholm, Sweden%School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083,China 2008; Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beifing 100037, China
• Subjects: Eoandromeda octobrachiata; Octoradiate spiral organism; South China; Ediacaran
• ISSN: 1000-9515
• DOI: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-9515.2008.01.003

P5; Shales of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation of South China contain a new disc-shaped macrofossil, Eoandromeda octobrachiata, characterized by eight spiral arms that were probably housed within an outer membrane. Although the presence of eight radiating structures entails a resemblance to cnidarian octocorais as well as to ctenophores, direct homologies with these extant groups are unlikely. Instead we bring attention to the helicospiral morphology of newly reported embryos from the Doushantuo Formation, suggesting that the long-sought adults of the Ediacaran embryonic metazoans have fmaily been found.