Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Charnia masoni

Rangeomorpha

Discussion

Described from six frondose specimens (including the holotype specimen) from one locality. Species is named after the schoolboy who originally found the specimens and brought them to the attention of the author, Roger Mason. The author suggests that Charnia masoni may have been originally attached to the discoidal fossil Charniodiscus concentricus, also described for the first time in this publication. His sketch of the inferred relationship is provided (p. 212, Pl. 13, fig. 3), and he interprets Charnia masoni as "an algal frond".

Send comments to me

Taxonomy
Charnia masoni was named by Ford (1958) [DIAGNOSIS: As per genus DISTRIBUTION: Ediacaran; North America (Newfoundland), Charnwood Forest U.K., and Russia.]. It is considered to be a form taxon. Its type specimen is Department of Geology, University of Leicester (LEIUG), No. 2382, an other (Frond), and it is a mold. It is the type species of Charnia.

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1958Charnia masoni Ford
1981Zolotytsia biserialis Fedonkin
2007Charnia masoni Laflamme et al.
2008Charnia masoni Hofmann et al. p. 16
2012Charnia masoni Brasier et al. p. 1121
2025Charnia masoni Wu et al. p. 5

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Eumetazoa
orderRangeomorpha
RankNameAuthor
genusCharnia
speciesmasoni

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

†Charnia masoni Ford 1958
show all | hide all
Invalid names: Zolotytsia biserialis Fedonkin 1981 [synonym]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
M. Laflamme et al. 2007Parallel-sided to ovate Charnia with broad, semicircular distal termination, zigzagging central axis and sigmoidal primary branches.
Length to width ratio less than 5:1 (typically between 2:1 and 3:1). Primary branches highly acute (typically less than 30 from midline).
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: no hard partss
Entire body: yesg
Adult length: 100 to < 1000s
Adult width: 10 to < 100s
Adult height: 100 to < 1000s
Thickness: thins
Form: sheets
Environment: outer shelf, marines
Locomotion: stationarys
Attached: yess
Life habit: epifaunals
Diet: suspension feeders
Created: 2009-08-13 11:36:32
Modified: 2009-08-19 12:32:54
Source: s = species, g = genus
References: Narbonne et al. 2009, Laflamme et al. 2007

Age range: Poundian or 570.00000 to 538.80000 Ma

Collections (27 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk) Charnia masoni (91644)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8China (Hubei) Charnia sp. (236902)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) Charnia masoni (51740 51741 80325 80332 80342 80348 80349 80350 80351 89095 89096 89111 89118 89119 89209 90710 236918)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8United Kingdom (England) Charnia masoni (228457)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8Canada (Nova Scotia) Charnia masoni (169292)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8Canada (Northwest Territories) Charnia masoni (231368)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8Canada (Newfoundland) Charnia masoni (228550)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8United Kingdom Charnia masoni (153338)
Ediacaran635.0 - 538.8Russian Federation (Sakha) Charnia masoni (99226)
Poundian570.0 - 538.8Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) Charnia masoni (10285)
Poundian570.0 - 538.8China (Qinghai) Charnia masoni (239337)