A cast of Charniodiscus concentricus taken from Charnwood Forest, England
Taphonomic stop-motion model of C. concentricus
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
†Petalonamae
Class:
†Arboreomorpha
Genus:
†Charniodiscus Ford, 1958
Species
C. concentricus Ford, 1958 (type species)
C. procerus LaFlamme et al., 2004
C. yorgensis? Borchvardt et Nessov, 1999
Charniodiscus is an Ediacaran fossil that in life was probably a stationary filter feeder that lived anchored to a sandy sea bed. The organism had a holdfast, stalk and frond. The holdfast was bulbous shaped, and the stalk was flexible. The frond was segmented and had a pointed tip. There were two growth forms: one with a short stem and a wide frond, and another with a long stalk, elevating a smaller frond about 50 centimetres (20 in) above the holdfast. While the organism superficially resembles the sea pens (cnidaria), it is probably not a crown-group animal.
Charniodiscus was first found in Charnwood Forest in England, and named by Trevor D. Ford in 1958. The name is derived from the fact that Ford described a holdfast consisting only of a double concentric circle, his species being named Charniodiscus concentricus. Later it was discovered that a frond (Charnia masoni) was part of a closely related organism. Charnia differs in the branching structure in the frond.
Charniodiscus specimens are known from across the globe dating to around 565 to 555 million years ago.
Species are distinguished by the number of segments, the presence or absence of distal spines, and by shape ratios.
Other described species, C. arboreus, C. longus, C. oppositus, and C. spinosus are considered to belong to their own genus Arborea, which is sometimes considered a synonym of Charniodiscus.[1] The status of C. yorgensis needs to be restudied.[1]
^ abPérez-Pinedo, Daniel; McKean, Christopher; Taylor, Rod; Nicholls, Robert; McIlroy, Duncan (2022). "Charniodiscus and Arborea Are Separate Genera Within the Arboreomorpha: Using the Holotype of C. concentricus to Resolve a Taphonomic/Taxonomic Tangle". Frontiers in Earth Science. 9: 1393. Bibcode:2022FrEaS...9.1393P. doi:10.3389/feart.2021.785929. ISSN 2296-6463.
Charniodiscus is an Ediacaran fossil that in life was probably a stationary filter feeder that lived anchored to a sandy sea bed. The organism had a holdfast...
2012 A number of Ediacaran form taxa are thought to represent Charnia, Charniodiscus and other Petalonamids at varying levels of decay; these include the...
range: 635.0–508.0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Ediacaran-Cambrian Charniodiscus arboreus (=Arborea arborea) Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota...
preserved biological remains of various contemporary taxa such as Charnia, Charniodiscus, Bradgatia, Primocandelabrum, Pectinifrons and others, that were effaced...
anterior and posterior side, which included species like Spriggina, Charniodiscus and Yorgia. Many of the plants fit into a now-extinct phylum of Vendobionta...
upright frond-like Ediacarans. A notable example is the form known as Charniodiscus, a circular impression later found to be attached to the long 'stem'...
classified as an annelid worm, a rangeomorph-like frond, a variant of Charniodiscus, a proarticulatan, an arthropod (perhaps related to the trilobites)...
shape of Swartpuntia resembles other Ediacaran fronds Pteridinium and Charniodiscus, both fronds with alternating segments; the segments' microstructure...
the bottom the sea where it grew. It was over-towered by Charnia and Charniodiscus which grew nearby. Bradgatia has been found in Charnwood Forest in England...
Shepshedia, are now all regarded as taphomorphs related to Charnia or Charniodiscus. Fluvial taphonomy is concerned with the decomposition of organisms...
The tuffs which were laid down in water are fossiliferous; Charnia, Charniodiscus and Cyclomedusa, are all recorded from these rocks. British Geological...
also bear fossils of Andiva, Yorgia, Dickinsonia, Tribrachidium and Charniodiscus, suggesting that it lived alongside these organisms. Kimberella probably...
Charniodiscus arboreus. R. grandis Glaessner et Wade, 1966 = Glassnerina grandis = Charnia massoni. R. longa Glaessner et Wade, 1966 = Charniodiscus longus...
be placed. The Bradgate examples include Bradgatia linfordensis and Charniodiscus concentricus as well as Charnia masoni. Because of the risk of vandalism...
type material of Charniodiscus concentricus is published by Pérez-Pinedo et al. (2022), who emend the generic diagnosis of Charniodiscus. Scientists report...
locations. Oppositus is also used in the names of many species, including: Charniodiscus oppositus, an extinct primitive marine animal. Leptoglossus oppositus...
China Arborea Glaessner et Wade 1966 Was considered a junior synonym of Charniodiscus, now thought to be a colonial Eumetazoan unrelated to Rangeomorphs Australia...
Dickinsonia, Anfesta, Albumares, Tribrachidium, Kimberella, Parvancorina, Charniodiscus and others. List of Ediacaran genera B. M. Keller & M. A. Fedonkin (1976)...
commonly categorized as Spindle-shaped (Fractofusus), Frond-shaped (Charniodiscus), or Bush-like / Radiating (Bradgatia) in form. Spindles are the most...
Images Charnia Valid Ford Ediacaran Maplewell Group United Kingdom Charniodiscus Valid Ford Ediacaran Maplewell Group United Kingdom Spriggina Valid...
(Australia) by Coutts et al. (2018). New, three-dimensional specimens of Charniodiscus arboreus (Arborea arborea), allowing for a detailed reinterpretation...
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images Charniodiscus yorgensis Disputed Borchvardt et Nessov Ediacaran Zimnie Gory Formation and Ust-Pinega...
Name Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes Images Charniodiscus procerus Valid LaFlamme et al., 2004 Ediacaran Mistaken Point Formation and Trepassey...
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