The First Evidence for Animals in the Rock Record is Fittingly from ‘The Rock’

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7-8 p.m.

Johnson Geo Centre

Public Lecture: Dr. Duncan McIlroy

The late Proterozoic of Newfoundland is world-famous for its well-dated Ediacaran biota. Discoveries from across eastern Newfoundland have filled gaps in our knowledge of the earliest animal-like ancestors. The groups composing this Ediacaran Biota include the fractal-like Rangeomorpha, the sea-pen like Arboreomorpha, and a large number of “Problematica.” One of the key characteristics of this Ediacaran Biota is that the organisms show no evidence of having been able to actively locomote, and as such do not meet the criteria for being members of the Animalia. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that suggest that some of the earliest evidence for our own kingdom (the Animalia) can be found living among the Rangeomorphs and Arboreomorphs – members of the Porifera (sponges) and Cnidaria (jellyfish relatives). Those ancient animal fossils provide evidence for the long (evolutionary) fuse to the “Cambrian Explosion” of complex animal life. My talk will present some of the evidence for the earliest animals, with fossils from Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site, Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, and also the new Inner Meadow site in Conception Bay.

Admission by donation. Doors open 6:30pm.

Presented by Johnson Geo Centre

Event Listing 2023-11-01 19:00:00 2023-11-01 20:00:00 America/St_Johns The First Evidence for Animals in the Rock Record is Fittingly from ‘The Rock’ Public Lecture: Dr. Duncan McIlroy The late Proterozoic of Newfoundland is world-famous for its well-dated Ediacaran biota. Discoveries from across eastern Newfoundland have filled gaps in our knowledge of the earliest animal-like ancestors. The groups composing this Ediacaran Biota include the fractal-like Rangeomorpha, the sea-pen like Arboreomorpha, and a large number of “Problematica.” One of the key characteristics of this Ediacaran Biota is that the organisms show no evidence of having been able to actively locomote, and as such do not meet the criteria for being members of the Animalia. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that suggest that some of the earliest evidence for our own kingdom (the Animalia) can be found living among the Rangeomorphs and Arboreomorphs – members of the Porifera (sponges) and Cnidaria (jellyfish relatives). Those ancient animal fossils provide evidence for the long (evolutionary) fuse to the “Cambrian Explosion” of complex animal life. My talk will present some of the evidence for the earliest animals, with fossils from Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site, Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, and also the new Inner Meadow site in Conception Bay. Admission by donation. Doors open 6:30pm. Johnson Geo Centre Johnson Geo Centre