Otavia antiqua is an early sponge-like fossil found in Namibia in the Etosha National Park. It is claimed to be the oldest animal fossil, being found in rock aged between 760 and 550 million years ago. The genus was named after the Otavi Group in Namibia in which the fossils were found. The oldest fossils are from the Tonian period, before the Cryogenian glaciations, but the latest found were from the Nama Group rocks, which are from the Ediacaran period.[1]
The shape of the fossils is irregular but rounded. The size varies from a third of a millimetre to 5 mm (0.20 in). They are hollow inside, and have many small, osculum-like holes connecting the interior to the outside. The material of the outer wall is predominantly calcium phosphate.[1]
The affinities of these fossils, along with other paleontological evidence for precambrian sponges, are disputed.[2]
^ abC. K. 'Bob' Brain; Anthony R. Prave; Karl-Heinz Hoffmann; Anthony E. Fallick; Andre Botha; Donald A. Herd; Craig Sturrock; Iain Young; Daniel J. Condon; Stuart G. Allison (2012). "The first animals: ca. 760-million-year-old sponge-like fossils from Namibia". South African Journal of Science. 108 (1/2). doi:10.4102/sajs.v108i1/2.658. hdl:2263/18222.
^Antcliffe, Jonathan B.; Callow, Richard H. T.; Brasier, Martin D. (November 2014). "Giving the early fossil record of sponges a squeeze". Biological Reviews. 89 (4): 972–1004. doi:10.1111/brv.12090. PMID 24779547. S2CID 22630754.
Further readingedit
Robert W. Gess (2012). "The oldest animal fossils". South African Journal of Science. 108 (1/2). doi:10.4102/sajs.v108i1/2.1064. ISSN 1996-7489.
"Namibia sponge fossils are world's first animals: study". PhysOrg.com. 6 February 2012.
otavia, antiqua, early, sponge, like, fossil, found, namibia, etosha, national, park, claimed, oldest, animal, fossil, being, found, rock, aged, between, million, years, genus, named, after, otavi, group, namibia, which, fossils, were, found, oldest, fossils, . Otavia antiqua is an early sponge like fossil found in Namibia in the Etosha National Park It is claimed to be the oldest animal fossil being found in rock aged between 760 and 550 million years ago The genus was named after the Otavi Group in Namibia in which the fossils were found The oldest fossils are from the Tonian period before the Cryogenian glaciations but the latest found were from the Nama Group rocks which are from the Ediacaran period 1 Otavia antiquaTemporal range 760 550 Ma Pha Proterozoic Archean Had Tonian Ediacaran Fossil 3D Reconstruction of Otavia antiqua Scientific classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Porifera Genus Otavia Brain et al 2012 Species Otavia antiqua Binomial name Otavia antiqua Brain et al 2012 The shape of the fossils is irregular but rounded The size varies from a third of a millimetre to 5 mm 0 20 in They are hollow inside and have many small osculum like holes connecting the interior to the outside The material of the outer wall is predominantly calcium phosphate 1 The affinities of these fossils along with other paleontological evidence for precambrian sponges are disputed 2 See also editHuainan biotaReferences edit a b C K Bob Brain Anthony R Prave Karl Heinz Hoffmann Anthony E Fallick Andre Botha Donald A Herd Craig Sturrock Iain Young Daniel J Condon Stuart G Allison 2012 The first animals ca 760 million year old sponge like fossils from Namibia South African Journal of Science 108 1 2 doi 10 4102 sajs v108i1 2 658 hdl 2263 18222 Antcliffe Jonathan B Callow Richard H T Brasier Martin D November 2014 Giving the early fossil record of sponges a squeeze Biological Reviews 89 4 972 1004 doi 10 1111 brv 12090 PMID 24779547 S2CID 22630754 Further reading editRobert W Gess 2012 The oldest animal fossils South African Journal of Science 108 1 2 doi 10 4102 sajs v108i1 2 1064 ISSN 1996 7489 Namibia sponge fossils are world s first animals study PhysOrg com 6 February 2012 Portal nbsp Paleontology nbsp This prehistoric sponge article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Ediacaran biota related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Precambrian animal related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otavia amp oldid 1193520131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
