Gehlingia Temporal range:
Ediacaran
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![]() | |
Artists reconstruction of Gehlingia dibrachida (note deep groove and tubular structures). Reconstruction from McMenamin and McMenamin, 1994, Hypersea: Life on Land modified by Heather Winkelmann. | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | incertae sedis |
Genus: | †
Gehlingia McMenamin, 1998 |
Species: | †G. dibrachida
|
Binomial name | |
†Gehlingia dibrachida McMenamin, 1998
|
Gehlingia dibrachida is a species of enigmatic Ediacaran organism from South Australia described in 1998. Gehlingia has been described as having many characteristics of petalonamids, although it has been classified as a rather close relative of the Tribrachidium. [1] The overall shape of Gehlingia contradicts this affinity, however, with its shape being a more Bilaterally symmetrical one although the basic structure similar to that of Tribrachidium appears in Gehlingia as separate branches extending into bifurcating minor branches [1] along with "thumb structures" that are apparent in Tribrachidium in the form of side bulges on an axis. [2]
The generic name honours the Australian palaeontologist specialising in Ediacaran fossils, James G. Gehling. [2]
Gehlingia dibrachida represents a frond-like bilaterally symmetric organism with two fronds with each half of them having a swollen axis on an inner edge. The organism's axis bifurcated once and bifurcates towards the outer edge of its two fronds. [3] Similar deformations occur in both Tribrachidium and Gehlingia some notable ones being delaying of the bifurcation and tubular structures being visible between the striae. A number of tubular structures emanate from the axis and are often either straight or curved. [3] A deep groove separates the two axes. The entire animal is estimated to have been 8 centimeters (3.1 in) in length and 3.1 centimeters (1.2 in) in width. [3] The tubular structures of the two "fronds" end abruptly and in turn form a smooth edge to the organism. [3]
In Gehlingia (as well as Tribrachidium) there are "thumb" structures that appear to have been positioned on the left and right side of the main branch. [1] In Tribrachidium, the thumb structures are visible as side bulges which extend out of an axis. [2]
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Gehlingia Temporal range:
Ediacaran
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
Artists reconstruction of Gehlingia dibrachida (note deep groove and tubular structures). Reconstruction from McMenamin and McMenamin, 1994, Hypersea: Life on Land modified by Heather Winkelmann. | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | incertae sedis |
Genus: | †
Gehlingia McMenamin, 1998 |
Species: | †G. dibrachida
|
Binomial name | |
†Gehlingia dibrachida McMenamin, 1998
|
Gehlingia dibrachida is a species of enigmatic Ediacaran organism from South Australia described in 1998. Gehlingia has been described as having many characteristics of petalonamids, although it has been classified as a rather close relative of the Tribrachidium. [1] The overall shape of Gehlingia contradicts this affinity, however, with its shape being a more Bilaterally symmetrical one although the basic structure similar to that of Tribrachidium appears in Gehlingia as separate branches extending into bifurcating minor branches [1] along with "thumb structures" that are apparent in Tribrachidium in the form of side bulges on an axis. [2]
The generic name honours the Australian palaeontologist specialising in Ediacaran fossils, James G. Gehling. [2]
Gehlingia dibrachida represents a frond-like bilaterally symmetric organism with two fronds with each half of them having a swollen axis on an inner edge. The organism's axis bifurcated once and bifurcates towards the outer edge of its two fronds. [3] Similar deformations occur in both Tribrachidium and Gehlingia some notable ones being delaying of the bifurcation and tubular structures being visible between the striae. A number of tubular structures emanate from the axis and are often either straight or curved. [3] A deep groove separates the two axes. The entire animal is estimated to have been 8 centimeters (3.1 in) in length and 3.1 centimeters (1.2 in) in width. [3] The tubular structures of the two "fronds" end abruptly and in turn form a smooth edge to the organism. [3]
In Gehlingia (as well as Tribrachidium) there are "thumb" structures that appear to have been positioned on the left and right side of the main branch. [1] In Tribrachidium, the thumb structures are visible as side bulges which extend out of an axis. [2]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)