While some of the fossils that are found within the Ediacaran Fauna are potentially
body fossils where we can see the whole animal.
Like we do here with Charnia.
Some though are trace fossils this is where it's just the impression
of where an organism has left a trace of an action, whether it be a foot print or
well, no feet at this time.
In this case it's a blob print, here we can see something like Cyclomedusa,
a jellyfish, which has landed on the sea bed.
And when it has done so, it's left an impression, and
remarkably, this fine detail has been preserved for over 560 million years.
The Ediacaran Fauna
reached it's zenith some 575 million years ago.
It's exemplified by localities such as mistaken point In Newfoundland where vast
bedding plains are covered with these beautiful fossils of the Ediacaran age.
It is not until, though, about 530 million years ago that we see
what became known as the Cambrian explosion.
These are the beautiful hard-bodied fossils that so
typify the Cambrian period.
Creatures that we all come to know and love.
However, they have their earliest origins in localities such as
the Burgess Shale and the Chengjiang fauna of China.