dickinsonia and extinct forms


Dickinsonia lived in the late Ediacaran oceans more than 540 million years ago before the Cambrian explosion when the first recognisable animals emerged.  We now know that 93% of Dickinsonia organic molecules had 27 carbon molecules which means they produced cholesterol, the signature of animal cells.  Whilst not equivalent to the T-Rex predator of the Ediacarans, it is a special animal of an early ecosystem which we celebrate by hand carving their forms and intimating their movements.

 

Search