Evidence of Ediacaran NeoProterozoic Sponges From China?

Potential Ediacaran Sponge Gemmules from the Yangtze Gorges area in South China

Authors:

Du et al

Abstract:

Sponges are widely viewed as the most primitive metazoans. Sponge gemmule-like structures have been recovered from the lower part of the Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area (South China), that was deposited between 635 to 580 Ma. Gemmoscleres-like structures are embedded in the outer coat of the sponge structures. Electron probe microanalyses EPMA) of the gemmoscleres-indicate that they have siliceous composition. The naked subspheroidal sponge structures are composed of three layers, consistent with the preservation of a tri-layered theca embedded with the gemmosclere-like structures. The potential fossils of the Ediacaran sponge gemmules in the Doushantuo Formation may provide one of the earliest records of sponges.