Description

Tribrachidium heraldicum
Late Precambrian (Vendian)
Penega Formation
East Angelsk, White Sea, Russia

9mm complete on 26mm slab. Very rare.

Tribachidium is an extinct animal that lived during the Ediacaran period, which occurred around 635-541 million years ago. It is known from the fossil record and is considered one of the iconic organisms of the Ediacaran biota.

Tribachidium is a disc-shaped animal with threefold symmetry, hence the name “tribachidium” which means “three arms”. Its body is composed of three curved arms that radiate out from a central point, forming a triangular shape. The arms are lined with smaller secondary branches, giving the appearance of a feather or fern-like structure.

The exact nature of tribachidium is still not entirely clear, as it is not closely related to any living organism. Some scientists believe it may have been a type of filter-feeding animal, while others suggest it may have been a type of algae or a colonial organism. However, because tribachidium is known only from the fossil record, much about its biology and behavior remains a mystery.