Trepassia

Trepassia is a 579 million-year-old fossil[1] of Ediacaran rangeomorph. It was first discovered by Guy M. Narbonne, a professor at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada and colleagues in 2009.[2] Three years later, Martin D. Brasier added additional description to Trepassia.[3] The generic name is taken from the French word, trépassés, which translates to "those that have departed forever" (or "corpses") and honors the Trepassey community in Newfoundland. It was originally described as Charnia wardi; it was referred under this synonym in a 2016 paper.[4]

Trepassia
Temporal range: Late Ediacaran,
A large specimen of Trepassia wardae from the Drooks Formation in Newfoundland
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
†Petalonamae
Class:
†Rangeomorpha
Genus:
Trepassia wardae

Narbonne, 2009
Species:
T. wardae
Binomial name
Trepassia wardae
Narbonne, 2009
Synonyms

Charnia wardi

Morphology

Trepassia is one of the oldest known rangeomorphs and spanned over one meter in length. Longest specimens of T. wardae reached 185 cm (73 in).[4] It is a long and slender rangeomorph, its structure consists of single-sided branches with both primary and secondary branches rising from a central stalk. The primary branches were capable of minor pivoting as shown in the bundles of secondary branches. The adult specimens of Trepassia had substantial thickness, shown by the cylindrical cross-section of the frond.[2]

The suspension-feed strategy of Trepassia wardae was that it used its long, slender petalodium for continuous feeding at all heights above the sea floor.[2] Trepassia is believed to have reproduced asexually. Taller organisms were surrounded by large clusters of offspring.[5] It grew by addition of new branches at the tip of the frond. There may be a link between its mode of reproduction and its large body size.[5]

Distribution

Trepassia is found in Spaniard's Bay on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and in Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland, Canada.[6][7] Trepassia has only been found in Newfoundland.

References
  1. "Ediacaran Fossils: One Species at a Time | Smithsonian Ocean". ocean.si.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  2. Narbonne, Guy M.; Laflamme, Marc; Greentree, Carolyn; Trusler, Peter (2009). "Reconstructing a Lost World: Ediacaran Rangeomorphs from Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland". Journal of Paleontology. 83 (4): 503–523. doi:10.1666/08-072R1.1. ISSN 0022-3360. S2CID 129788025.
  3. Brasier, Martin D.; Antcliffe, Jonathan B.; Liu, Alexander G. (2012). "The architecture of Ediacaran Fronds". Palaeontology. 55 (5): 1105–1124. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01164.x. ISSN 1475-4983. S2CID 86538017.
  4. M. LAFLAMME, G. M. NARBONNE, C. GREENTREE & M. M. ANDERSON. 2016. Morphology and taphonomy of an Ediacaran frond: Charnia from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland. Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6. Archived 18 August 2022 at the Wayback Machinedoi:10.1144/SP286.17
  5. Collins, Kelly Foss and Sarah (2018-06-26). "Why life got big". Gazette - Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  6. "Trepassia wardae". www.Ediacaran.org. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  7. Narbonne, Guy M.; Laflamme, Marc; Greentree, Carolyn; Trusler, Peter (2009). "Reconstructing a lost world: Ediacaran rangeomorphs from Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland". Journal of Paleontology. 83 (4): 503–523. doi:10.1666/08-072R1.1. ISSN 0022-3360. S2CID 129788025.
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