The rise of bilaterians

Figures & data

Table 1. Time of first appearance, and type of Ediacaran genus.

						Morphology
						Bilat.		Radial
Age	Location	Formation	Genus	Reference	Figure	Un	Co	Un	Co	Size	Hab.	#
600–615^c	S. China	Doushantuo l. phosphorite	? Planolites trace fossil	Tang et al. (2006)	4a,c	c	–			W × L 0.5 × 8 mm	M^a	1
			Sponge	Li et al. (1998)	1			–	a	D (150–750 μm)	S^b	35
580–590^b	S. China	Doushantuo m. phosphorite	Vernanimalcula	Chen et al. (2004a)	1	a	–			L 124–178 μm	M^b	10
			? Cruziana trace fossil	Tang et al. (2006)	4b	c	–			W × L 4 × 64 mm	M^a	1
			Embryos with polar lobes	Chen et al. (2006)	2	b				egg D 0.2–1.2 mm		248
			Hydrozoan	Chen et al. (2002)	11			–	a	L × W 1 × 0.2 mm	S^b	1
			Ramitubus increscens	Chen et al. (2002)	6			–	b	L × W 2 × 0.1– 0.2 mm	S^a	1
				Liu et al. (2008)								100
			Sinocyclocyclicus	Liu et al. (2008)	pl. 3	?	–	?	–	L × W 1 × 0.2 mm	S^b	200
			Quadratitubus	Liu et al. (2008)	pl. 5	?	–	?	–	D 0.2 mm	S^b	100
			Crassitubus	Liu et al. (2008)	pl. 6	?	–	?	–	D 0.18 mm	S^b	100
570–580^a	Newfoundland, CA	Drook	Thectardis	Clapham et al. (2004)	2			a	–	L 26–165 mm	S^a	205
										W 24–96 mm
			Trepassia	Narbonne et al. (2009)	10, 1–7	–	?	–	?	L × W 2 × 0.1 mm	S^a	5**
		Briscal	Fractofusus andersoni	Gehling and Narbonne (2007)	12	–	?	–	?	L × W 1.0 × 0.5 mm	S^b	22
			Beothukis	Narbonne et al.	6, 1–7	–	?	–	?	L × W 2.5 × 0.6 mm	S^a	11
			Charnia masoni	Narbonne et al. (2009)	11, 1–2	–	?	–	?	L × W 2 × 1.3 mm	S^0	1
560–570	White Sea Russia	Lamtsa	Epibaion	Ivantsov and Malakhovskaya (2002)	2, 3	a	–			L × W 44–24 cm	M^a	ca. 100
			Inaria	Gehling (1988) and Grazhdankin (2000)	6			b	–	D 21–106 mm	S^a	57
	Newfoundland, CA	Mistaken Pt.	Charniodiscus spinosus	LaFlamme et al. (2004)	4 1–4	–	?	–	?	L × W 1.4 × 2.8 mm	S^a	29
			Bradgaita	Narbonne (2004) and Hofmann et al. (2008)	3E 19	–	?	–	?	L × W 4.2 × 0.7 mm	S^a	5
			Primocandelabrum	Hofmann et al. (2008)	12	–	?	–	?	L × W 5.4 × 1.5 mm	S^a	5
			Hadryniscala	Hofmann et al. (2008)	22–1	–	?	–	?	L 1.5—2.5 mm	S^a	3
										W 1–2.5 mm
			Pectinifrons	Bamforth et al. 2008	5, 6	–	?	–	?	L × W 3.8 × 1.3 mm	S^a	102
		Trepassey	Rangeomorph plumose	Narbonne (2004)	2 c,d	–	?	–	?	L × W 1.4 × 0.3 mm	S^a	1
			Avalofractus	Narbonne et al. (2009)	3,1–6	–	?	–	?	L × W 1.5 × × 0.5 mm	S^a	9
550–560^a	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Kimberella	Fedonkin et al. (2007c)	1	a	–			L 2–3–150 mm	M^a	800
			Parvancornia minchami	Glaessner (1980) and Ivantsov et al. (2004)	Pl. 1	a	–			L 8.4–27 mm	M^a	60
			Dickinsonia costata	Gehling et al. (2005)	7	a	–			L 0.42–13.6 cm	M^a	8
			Andiva	Fedonkin (2002)	1–3	a	–			L 59–100 mm	M^a	4
			Yorgia	Ivanstov (1999) and Dzik and Ivantsov (1999)	1	a	–			L 9.8–215 mm	M^a	14
										W 10.3–200 mm
			Cyanorus	Ivantsov (2004)	Pl. 1, 1–6	a	–			L 3.3–11 mm	M^b	12
										W 1.9–6 mm
			Vendia rachiata	Ivantsov (2004)	Pl. 1, 10–13	a	–			L 4.5–12.5 mm	M^b	6
										W 3.8–8.5 mm
			Karakhtia	Ivantsov et al. (2004)	4	a	–			L 8–108 mm	M^b	5
			Onega	Ivantsov (2007) and Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl.1, 7–8	a	–			L 5.4–5.9 mm	M^b	8
										W 3.8–4.3 mm
			Archaeaspius	Ivanstov (2001)	Pl. 1 6–7	a	–			L 4–19.5 mm	M^b	8
										W 4.2–23.5 mm
	England	Charnwood Bradgate	Pseudovendia	Boynton and Ford (1979)	1	b	–			L × W ″25 × 20 mm	M^b	1
	S. Australia	Rawnsley Quartzite	Spriggina ovata	Glaessner and Wade (1966)	Pl. 98, 4	a	–			L × W 22 × 8.5 mm	M^b	4
	S. China	Doushantuo Miaohe	Bilaterian	Xiao et al. (2002)	11	a	–			L × W 25 × 1 mm	M^a	1
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Archaeonassa trace fossil	Jensen (2003)	3A	b	–			W 4.5 mm	M^a	10
	S. Australia	Rawnsley Quartzite	Helminthoidichnites, trace fossil	Glaessner (1969) and Jensen et al. (2006)	5B	b	–			W 3–4 mm	M^a	5
			Spirorhaphe trace fossil	Runnegar, 1992	3.9	b	–			W 2–3 mm	M^a	1
			Aulichnites trace fossil	Jenkins (1995)	Pl. 2 L	b	–			W 4 mm	M^a	1
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Solza	Ivanstov et al. (2004)	Pl. 1,1–4	a	–			L 7.2–10.4 mm	M^b	6
										W 5.3–8 mm
			Temnoxa	Ivantsov et al. (2004)	Pl. 1, 1–2	a	–			L 6.4 − 8.6 mm W 3.7–4.6 mm	M^b	2
			Lossiina	Ivantsov (2007)	Pl. 2, 1–3	a	–			L 3.2– 8.4 mm	M^b	3
										W 1.8–3.7 mm
			Armillifera	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 7, 3	a	–			D 8 mm	M^b	1
	S. Australia	Rawnsley Quartzite	Praecambridium	Glaessner and Wade (1966)	Pl.102, 4	a	–			L × W ??5 × 4 mm	M^b	7
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Veprina	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 4, 6			b	–	D 6 cm	P^b	1
	S. Australia	Rawnsley Quartzite	Eoporpita	Wade (1972)	Pl. 40, 1–6			a	–	D 2–8 cm	P^b	20
			Rugoconites enigmaticus	Wade (1972)	Pl. 43, 3–4			a	–	D 16–64 mm	P^b	26
			Palaeophragmodictya	Gehling and Rigby (1996)	6			a	–	D 1.5 10 cm	S	48
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Bonata	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 8, 4			a	–	D 40 mm	S	4
			Vendoconularia	Ivanstov and Fedonkin (2002)	Pl. 1			a	–	W 54 mm max.	S^b	1
	Newfoundland, CA	Femeuse	Triforillonia	Gehling et al. (2000)	17			a	–		S^c	10
	S. Australia	Rawsley Quartzite	Tribrachidium	Glaessner and Wade (1966)	Pl. 101, 5			a	–	W 9–400 mm	S^c	40
			Conomedusites	Glaessner and Wade (1966)	Pl. 99, 3–4			a	–	D 21–22 mm	S^c	3
			Arkarua	Gehling (1987)	4–5			a	–	D 3.5–10.2 mm	S^c	57
			Skinnera	Wade (1969)	Pl. 69, 8–12			a	–	D 3.9–32 mm	S^b	27
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Albumares	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 9, 1, 4			a	–	D 13 mm	S^b	3
			Anfesta	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 9, 2			a	–	D 18 mm	S^b	2
	S. China	Doushantuo Miaohe	Calyptrina	Xiao et al. (2002)	2.3–6	?	–	?	–	D 3–10 mm	S^b	10
			Protoconites	Xiao et al. (2002)	7.9–7.1	?	–	?	–	D 1–4 mm at aperture	S^b	11
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Ventogyrus	Fedonkin and Ivanstov (2007b)	3–7	–	?	–	?	D 5–7 mm	P^b	25
										W 3–4 mm
	S. Australia	Rawsley Quartzite	Funisia	Droser and Gehling (2008)	1	–	?	–	?	L up to 30 cm	S^a	1000
										W 2–12 mm
			Gehlingia	Gehling (1988) and Fedonkin et al. (2007a)	7	–	?	–	?	L × W 2.1 × 0.7 mm	S^b	1
	White Sea Russia	Verkhovka	Ramellina	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl 14, 1	–	?	–	?	L 4.5–6 mm	S^b	2
										W 1–1.5 mm
			Swartpuntia	Narbonne et al. (1997)	6, 9, 10	–	?	–	?	W 2–3 mm	S^a	10
	S. Australia	Rawsley Quartzite	Pambikalbae	Jenkins and Nedin (2007)	3–6	–	?	–	?		S^a	5
			Pteridinium	Jenkins (1992) and Narbonne et al. (1997)	5	–	?	–	?	L × W 12.8 × 3.6 mm	S^a	10
			Phyllozoon	Jenkins and Gehling (1978)	7	–	?	–	?	W 2–3 mm	S^a	15
543–550^a	White Sea Russia	Yorga	Paravendia	Ivantsov (2001) and Ivantsov (2004)	Pl. 1, 2, 3	a	–			L 13.5–36 mm	M^a	5
										W 7–18 mm
			Ivovicia	Ivantsov (2007)	Pl. 1, 3, 4	a	–			L 13–19 mm	M^a	2
										W 9–13 mm
			Platypholinia	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 19, 5, 6	a	–			L 6 cm max	M^b	2
										W 2.8 cm max
			Vladimissa	Fedonkin (1990b)	Pl. 19, 7	a	–			L × W 4.5 × 3.2 cm	M^b	1
			Tamga	Ivanstov (2007)	Pl. 2, 5–7	a	–			L 3.8–5.4 mm	M^b	5
										W 2.7–3.8 mm
	Aus area Namibia	Dabis	Protechiurus	Glaessner (1979)	1	b	–			L × W 7.4 × 1.9 cm	M^b	1
		Urusis	Archaeichnium	Glaessner (1977)	1–2	a	–			L 35 mm max	M^a	73
										W 4.5 mm max
	N.W. CA	Blueflower	Windermeria	Narbonne (1994)	3, 2–4	b	–			L × W 1.6 × 0.8 cm	M^b	1
			Palaeophycus trace fossil	Narbonne and Aitken (1990)	Pl. 3, 6–8	b	–			W 3.7–7.1 mm	M^a	34
			Torrowangea trace fossil	Narbonne and Aitken (1990)	7, A–C	b	–			W 0.8–2.7 mm	M^a	160
			Helminthopsis irregularis trace fossil	Narbonne and Aitken (1990)	PL. 4, 5.6	b	–			W 1.4–3.1 mm	M^a	ca. 100
	Bhutan	Deschiling	Gordia trace fossil	Tangri et al. (2003)	3	b	–			W 1, 7–4.0	M^a	ca. 10
	Nama Namibia	Urusis	Treptichnus trace fossil	Jensen et al. (2000)	2	b	–			W × L 2 × 10 mm	M^a	ca. 7
		Dabis	Namacalathus	Grotzinger et al. (2000)	9			a	–	cup 2.5 cm stem 3 cm	S^a	105
			Ernietta	Pflug (1972)	Pl. 34, 5, 7, 8			b	–	W × L 62 × 29 mm	S^a	12
	White Sea Russia	Yorga	Nemiana	Leonov (2007)	10			a	–	D 18 mm max	S^b	60
			Vaveliksia	Ivanstov et al. (2004)	Pl. 2, 3–10			b	–	L 35–86 mm	S^b	5
										W 8–19 mm
	Uruguay	Yerbal	Soldadotubulus	Gaucher and Sprechmann (1999)	Pl. 9, 3–6	?	–	?	–	W × L 50 × 400 μm	S^b	10
	Great Basin US	Lower Woods	Onuphionella	Hagadorn and Waggoner (2000)	5:7	?	–	?	–	W × L 6 × 35 mm	S^b	1
	S. China	Dengying	Sinotubulites	Hua et al. (2000)	Pl. 2, 6	?	–	?	–	W 1.3 mm	S^b	2
			Goojiashania	Hua et al. (2000)	Pl. 1, 4b, 7b	?	–	?	–	W 4 mm	S^b	2
			Ningqiangella	Hua et al. (2000)	Pl. 1, 4b, 7b	?	–	?	–	W 5.5 mm	S^b	2
			Conotubus	Hua et al. (2000)	Pl 1, 7a	?	–	?	–	W 4 mm Aperture	S^b	1
			Chenella	Hua et al. (2000)	Pl. 2, 11	?	–	?	–	W 0.5 mm	S^b	1
			Paracharnia	Sun (1986)	01-Feb	–	?	–	?	W ca 1 mm	S^b	2
	Nama Namibia	Dabis	Rangea schneiderhoehni	Jenkins (1985)	2	–	?	–	?	L × W 3 × 1 mm	S^b	23
		Urusias	Nasepia	Germs (1973)	2 A–H	–	?	–	?	W 0.1–1 mm	S^c	6
	S. Brazil	Tamango	Corumbella	Babcock et al. (2005)	4, 5, 7	–	?	–	?	W 2.4 mm	S^a	11
	Uruguay	Yerbal	Waltheria	Gaucher and Sprechmann (1999)	Pl. 9	–	?	–	?	W 120 μm	S^b	57
	S. China	Dengying	Cloudina	Hua et al. (2005)	1	–	?	–	?	W 2–3 mm	S^b	>500
	Nama Namibia	Zaris	Namapoikia	Wood et al. (2002)	1			–	a	W 1.5–5 mm	S^a	>500
Notes: Un, unitary; Co, colonial; Hab, habitat; M, motile; S, sessile; P, pelagic; #, number of cases; ?, cannot be certain if animal is radian or a bilaterian W, width; L, length and D, diameter.

Figure 1 Time line showing the ages of the sites where Ediacaran fossils were collected and where the age of the deposit has been established by measuring the products of radioactive decay. An ‘ × ’ marks the U–Pb zircon dates and a ‘0’ marks the Pb–Pb dates. The superscipt identifies the authors who established the dates: (1) (Condon et al. (2005), (2) Zhang et al. (2005), (3) Barford et al. (2002), (4) Chen et al. (2004), (5) Bemus (1988), (6) Bowring et al. (2003a), (7) Bowring et al. (2003b), (8) Compston et al. (2002), (9) Martin et al. (2000), (10) Grazhdankin (2004), (11) Preiss (2000) and (12) Grotzinger (1995). A solid line indicates that the date for a given formation or a member in the formation is relatively secure; while a dashed line indicates that the dating is not secure.

Figure 2 A) Drawing of Dickinsonia showing the bipolar features that were used by (Shen et al. (2008). (B) Drawing of Dickinsonia showing that it has an anterior (a)–posterior (p)-axis, and dorsal and ventral sides based on inferences about the polarity of locomotion, the pattern of growth and the anatomy of internal and ventral organs.

Figure 3 A) The percentage of new genera in each time interval that are either unitary or colonial. Both categories may include some bilaterians. (B) The percentage of new bilaterian genera at each time interval included in radially symmetrical unitary and colonial genera with radially symmetrical zooids. The top of each graph gives the number of genera.

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