Insights into the skeletonization, lifestyle, and affinity of the unusual ediacaran fossil Corumbella

Pacheco MLAF, Galante D, Rodrigues F, Leme JDM, Bidola P, Hagadorn W, Stockmar M, Herzen J, Rudnitzki ID, Pfeiffer F, Marques AC (2015)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

PLoS ONE Public Library of Science

Book Volume: 10

Article Number: e0114219

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114219

Abstract

The Ediacaran fossil Corumbella is important because it is hypothesized to be a scyphozoan cnidarian, and thus might be one of the rare examples of bona fide Neoproterozoic animals. Unfortunately, its mode of life, style of skeletonization, and taxonomic affinity have been very controversial. Here, we use X-ray micro-CT, SEM, and taphonomic analysis to compare preservational modes of Corumbella, in order to better understand the symmetry, mode of construction, preservational style, and taxonomy of this group. Results suggest that articulated and disarticulated specimens of Corumbella from the Ediacaran of Brazil, Paraguay, and the United States, although sometimes preserved very differently, represent the same taxon - Corumbella werneri. Corumbellids had a thick but flexible theca and probably lived with their basalmost part anchored in the sediment, much like Conotubus. When considered together, these results suggest that Corumbella was one of the first animals to build a skeleton, employing a lamellar microfabric similar to conulariids.

Involved external institutions

Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) / Federal University of São Carlos BR Brazil (BR) Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory / Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron (LNLS) BR Brazil (BR) University of São Paulo / Universidade de São Paulo (USP) BR Brazil (BR) Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE) Denver Museum of Nature & Science US United States (USA) (US) Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH (HZG) DE Germany (DE) Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) BR Brazil (BR)

How to cite

APA:

Pacheco, M.L.A.F., Galante, D., Rodrigues, F., Leme, J.D.M., Bidola, P., Hagadorn, W.,... Marques, A.C. (2015). Insights into the skeletonization, lifestyle, and affinity of the unusual ediacaran fossil Corumbella. PLoS ONE, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114219

MLA:

Pacheco, Mrian L. A. Forancelli, et al. "Insights into the skeletonization, lifestyle, and affinity of the unusual ediacaran fossil Corumbella." PLoS ONE 10.3 (2015).

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