Precambrian biota: protistan origin of trace fossils?

Curr Biol. 2009 Jan 13;19(1):R28-30. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2008.11.003.

Abstract

Some Precambrian trace fossils have been presented as evidence for the early origin of bilaterians; the recent finding that large amoeboid protists leave macroscopic traces at the bottom of the deep ocean questions the metazoan nature of early trace fossils, stressing the importance of single-cell organisms in Precambrian biota.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ecosystem*
  • Eukaryota / cytology*
  • Fossils*
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Paleontology
  • Phylogeny