Here is a ediacarian fossil of the species Dickinsonia tenuis from the White Sea Reagion. This Vendian fossil shows a very detailed preservation. The piece is one time carefully glued. The glue line was matched with the colour of the matrix and fossil and some small repairs along the gule line where made. This Dickinsonia tenuis fossil mesures about 22 x 19 mm as it is on the matrix. The systematic status of the genus Dickinsonia was ever since controversial disputed. Even a association with the Fungi or a completely unknown kingdom where discussed in the past. Mostly accepted is status of Dickinsonia as animals (Metazoa). A recent article in the Science Magazin just from the 21 September, 2018 confirms Dickinsonia as one of the earliest animals fossils. The autors of this Article where bale to extract lipids from servile Dickinsonia fossil and analyse them. They were able to proof cholesteroids in the lipid metabolism of Dickinsonia and its relatives. Cholesterol is a hallmark of higher animals. Dickinsonia is one of the oldest multicolour organisms. Ilya Bobrovskiy et al, 2018: Ancient steroids establish the Ediacaran fossil Dickinsonia as one of the earliest animals – Science 21 Sep 2018: Vol. 361, Issue 6408, pp. 1246-1249 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat7228 | |||
Location: | Solza River, Arkhangelsk region, Russia | ||
Size Matrix: | about 120 x 110 mm | ||
Age: | Precambrian, Proterozoic, Ediacarian / Vendian, Verkhovka Formation (About 600 MA) |