Funisia
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| Funisia Fossil range: Ediacaran |
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.jpg/180px-Funisia_(science).jpg) Funisia specimens, as illustrated in the original article.
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Funisia is a genus of fossil upright worm-like animals from the Ediacaran biota,[1] about 0.3 meter tall.[2][3][4] The genus and its only species, F. dorothea, were described in a 2008 paper.[1] Because the animals grow in dense collections of animals the same age, it is believed to have reproduced sexually.[3] Although the evolution of sex took place before the origin of animals, and evidence of sexual reproduciton is observed in red algae ,[5] Funisia is one of the oldest known animals for which there is evidence of sexual reproduction.[4] Its relationship to other animals is unknown, but it may belong within the Porifera (sponges) or Cnidaria.[1]
[edit] Etymology
The generic name Funisia is after the latin "Rope", and is pronounced to rhyme with Tunisia, rather than the more fitting "fun is 'ere".[6] The name dorothea is in honor of Dorothy Droser, the mother of one of the scientists to describe the animal. Dorothy Droser, as the grandmother of eleven, was thrilled to be the namesake of an animal which is famous for sex.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Mary L. Droser and James G. Gehling (21 March 2008). "Synchronous Aggregate Growth in an Abundant New Ediacaran Tubular Organism". Science 319 (5870): 1660–1662. doi:.
- ^ a b "Fossil sheds light on the history of sex", The Times, March 21, 2008.
- ^ a b "Early life on Earth - no predators, plenty of sex", Reuters, Published March 21, 2008 12:45 AM.
- ^ a b "Research shows Earth's earliest animal ecosystem was complex and included sexual reproduction", March 20, 2008. Source: University of California - Riverside via physorg.com
- ^ Butterfield, N.J. (2000-09-01). "Bangiomorpha pubescens n. gen., n. sp.: implications for the evolution of sex, multicellularity, and the Mesoproterozoic/Neoproterozoic radiation of eukaryotes". Paleobiology 26 (3): 386-404. doi:.
- ^ Supporting online material
[edit] External links
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