Volborthella is a genus of small Early Cambrian animal of uncertain classification, known from fossils predating 530 million years ago and found across North America, Greenland, Spitsbergen and northeastern Europe. It built a conical shell by binding together grains of silica rather than by secreting shell material, a construction method that distinguishes it from the true cephalopods it superficially resembles and for which it was originally mistaken. Because it appears in the fossil record before trilobites, Volborthella is useful for dating Lower Cambrian rock formations, and a 2025 study proposed it may in fact represent an early cnidarian rather than a mollusk-like animal.
Facts
Classification
Living or Extinct Taxonomic Rank In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ18519633, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Volborthella
WikipediaIntroduction
Volborthella is an animal of uncertain classification, whose fossils pre-date 530 million years ago.
In Group: Cambrian Problematic Fossils, Lead
Volborthella is an animal of uncertain classification, whose fossils pre-date 530 million years ago.
View the Source Wikidata: Volborthella
Wikidata Q5150695, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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