Rugoconites

Rugoconites

A member of the Ediacaran biota which takes the form of a circular to oval impression preserved in hyporelief, six or more centimeters in diameter. They are surrounded by frills that have been interpreted (Wade 1972) as sets of tentacles. The bifurcating radial ribs, spreading from a central dome, serve to distinguish this genus from the very similar Paleophragmodictya, and may represent the channels of the gastrovascular system (Fedonkin & Cope 1985). Speculation that they may represent sponges (Gehling 1996) is not accepted by Sepkoski et al. (2002), who interpret it as a jellyfish-like cnidarian; it is believed that, in common with Ovatoscutum, they were free-swimming (Waggonner 1995). Cnidarian affinities are not necessarily refuted by Ivantstov & Fedonkin (2002), who suggest that Rugoconites may possess tri-radial symmetry and be a member of the Trilobozoa.

Fossil Rugoconites have been reported in clusters; this may represent a social/colonial way of life, or simply accumulation by the action of currents, sea-floor processes, or possibly preservational conditions (Droser 2007).