| Basic info | Taxonomic history | Classification | Included Taxa |
| Morphology | Ecology and taphonomy | External Literature Search | Age range and collections |
Charnia
Taxonomy
Charnia was named by Ford (1958) [DIAGNOSIS: "Frond-like organisms generally 10-25 cms. in length, composed of segmented lobes usually in contact laterally, diverging alternately on either side of a sinuous axial line, the whole tapering to a pointed apex at one end and a blunt stalk at the other".]. Its type is Charnia masoni. It is the type genus of Charniidae.
It was assigned to Charniidae by Laflamme et al. (2007) and Hofmann et al. (2008); and to Rangeomorpha by Sepkoski (2002), Brasier et al. (2012) and Dunn et al. (2021).
It was assigned to Charniidae by Laflamme et al. (2007) and Hofmann et al. (2008); and to Rangeomorpha by Sepkoski (2002), Brasier et al. (2012) and Dunn et al. (2021).
Species
Blackbrookia oaksi, C. gracilis, C. grandis, C. masoni (type species), C. siberica, Pseudovendia charnwoodensis, Shepshedia palmata
Synonyms
|
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Charnia Ford |
| 1979 | Pseudovendia Boynton and Ford |
| 1995 | Shepshedia Boynton and Ford |
| 1995 | Blackbrookia Boynton and Ford p. 181 |
| 2002 | Charnia Sepkoski |
| 2007 | Charnia Laflamme et al. |
| 2008 | Charnia Hofmann et al. p. 16 |
| 2011 | Pseudovendia Erwin et al. pp. SOM 16 |
| 2012 | Charnia Brasier et al. p. 1121 |
| 2021 | Charnia Dunn et al. |
Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data
|
|
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.
G. †Charnia Ford 1958
show all | hide all
†Charnia gracilis Wu et al. 2024
†Charnia grandis Glaessner and Wade 1966
†Charnia masoni Ford 1958
†Charnia siberica Sokolov 1972
Invalid names: Blackbrookia Boynton and Ford 1995 [synonym], Pseudovendia Boynton and Ford 1979 [synonym], Shepshedia Boynton and Ford 1995 [synonym]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| M. Laflamme et al. 2007 | Parallel-sided to ovate, distally and proximally tapering frond composed of multiple, sigmoidal to rectangular primary branches alternating along a central stalk, overlapping adjacent primary branches and typically crossing over the central midline forming a zigzagging central axis. Primary branches composed of multiple secondary modular elements arranged acutely to almost perpendicularly to the primary branches. Proximal tapering of frond lacks a distinct stem. Surface expression of basal disc commonly small or missing. | |
| M. D. Brasier et al. 2012 | Frond unipolar, comprising two rows of primary branches arranged alternately along a tightly furled central axis, forming a zig-zag suture (Figs 4A–B and 8D). First- order branches typically show proximal inflation, whereas second-order branches show moderate-to-medial inflation. All first to third-order branches are aligned in mark- edly subparallel series, with furled margins, having rangeomorph elements that are rotated and undisplayed. A basal disc is sometimes preserved. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
||||
| Source: g = genus | |||||
| Reference: Laflamme et al. 2007 | |||||
Collections (39 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ediacaran | United Kingdom | C. masoni (153338) | |
| Ediacaran | Russian Federation (Sakha) | C. masoni (99226 237144) | |
| Ediacaran | Canada (Newfoundland) | C. masoni (228550) C. sp. A (207807) | |
| Ediacaran | Russian Federation | C. sp. (51904 51905) | |
| Ediacaran | Canada (Northwest Territories) | C. masoni (231368) | |
| Ediacaran | Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) | Blackbrookia sp. (80340 80341) C. masoni (51740 51741 80325 80342 80348 80349 80350 89095 89096 89111 89118 89119 89209 236918) C. masoni, Blackbrookia sp. (80332) C. masoni, C. grandis (80351) C. sp., C. masoni (90710) | |
| Ediacaran | Canada (Nova Scotia) | C. masoni (169292) | |
| Ediacaran | Australia (South Australia) | C. sp. (191904 191905) Rangea grandis (89842) | |
| Ediacaran | China (Hubei) | C. gracilis, C. sp. (236902) C. sp. (235125) | |
| Ediacaran | United Kingdom (England) | C. grandis (236883) C. masoni (228457) Pseudovendia charnwoodensis (10287 10473) | |
| Ediacaran | Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk) | C. masoni, C. sp. (91644) | |
| Poundian | Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) | C. masoni (10285) |