VENDIAN HIEMALORA FROM ARCTIC SIBERIA REINTERPRETED AS HOLDFASTS OF BENTHIC ORGANISMS

Abstract

Hiemalora Fedonkin, 1982 is based on cosmopolitan fossils of the late Vendian (Ediacaran) Neoproterozoic sequences. There is no consensus on the nature and systematic position of these organisms. Taphonomic and morphological observations of extensive collections of Hiemalora pleiomorphus from Khatyspyt Formation (Arctic Siberia) indicate that this fossil is just a part of an unknown organism. Most probably Hiemalora represents a form with a thick-walled body, possessing a cone-like attachment bearing radial processes that resemble sponge root offshoots or algal rhizoids. Originally these structures penetrated the soft sediment and served as anchors as well as a source of symbiotic nutrition. Various imprints of Hiemalora could represent different sections of conic-shaped bodies. Probably, there were several organisms referred to as Hiemalora that had a similar substrate attachment organ.