Praecambridium

Praecambridium sigillum
Temporal range: Ediacaran
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Proarticulata
Fedonkin 1983
Genus: Praecambridium
Species: P. sigillum
Glaessner & Wade 1966

Praecambridium sigillum is an extinct organism that superficially resembles a segmented trilobite-like arthropod,[1] though the majority of experts now place it within the Proarticulata.[2][3] It is from the Late Precambrian of Ediacara Hills, Australia, about 555 million years ago. On average, P. sigillum had at least 5 pairs of segments, with each unit becoming progressively larger as they approach the cephalon-like head.

Etymology

The generic name is a compound word, with the Latin prefix prae "before" and a reference to the Cambrian mollusc genus Cambridium, in reference to how the appearance of the various segments are reminiscent of the muscle-scars on the inner surface of the shells of Cambridium.[4] The specific name is from Latin sigillum "a sigil".

See Also

List of Ediacaran genera

References

  1. Glaessner, M.F.; Wade, M. (1971). "Praecambridium – a primitive arthropoda". Lethaia 4 (1): 71–77. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1971.tb01280.x.
  2. Ivantsov, Andrey Yu. (2007). "Small Vendian transversely Articulated fossils". Paleontological Journal 41 (2): 113. doi:10.1134/S0031030107020013.
  3. Ivantsov, A.Y. (2001). "Vendia and Other Precambrian "Arthropods"". Paleontological Journal 35 (4): 335–343.
  4. Glaessner, M.F.; Wade, M. (1966). "The late Precambrian fossils from Ediacara, South Australia" (PDF). Palaeontology 9 (4): 599–628.
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