Funisia

Taxobox
name = "Funisia"


image_caption = "Funisia" specimens, as illustrated in the original article.
fossil_range = Ediacaran
regnum = Animalia
phylum="incertae sedis"
genus="Funisia"
genus_authority =
species = "F. dorothea"

"Funisia" is a genus of fossil upright worm-like animals from the Ediacaran biota,cite journal | journal = Science | date = 21 March 2008 | volume = 319 | issue = 5870 | pages = 1660–1662 | doi = 10.1126/science.1152595 | title = Synchronous Aggregate Growth in an Abundant New Ediacaran Tubular Organism | author = Mary L. Droser and James G. Gehling] about 0.3&#xa0;meter tall.cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article3593959.ece | date = March 21, 2008 | title = Fossil sheds light on the history of sex | publisher = The Times] cite news | url = http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/33330 | title = Early life on Earth - no predators, plenty of sex | publisher = Reuters | date = Published March 21, 2008 12:45 AM ] cite news | url = http://www.physorg.com/news125241587.html | title = Research shows Earth's earliest animal ecosystem was complex and included sexual reproduction | date = March 20, 2008 Source: University of California - Riverside via physorg.com] The genus and its only species, "F. dorothea", were described in a 2008 paper. Because the animals grow in dense collections of animals the same age, it is believed to have reproduced sexually. Although the evolution of sex took place before the origin of animals, and evidence of sexual reproduciton is observed in red algae Ma|1200,cite doi|10.1666/0094-8373(2000)026<0386:BPNGNS>2.0.CO;2] "Funisia" is one of the oldest known animals for which there is evidence of sexual reproduction. Its relationship to other animals is unknown, but it may belong within the Porifera (sponges) or Cnidaria.

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". [ [http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/319/5870/1660/DC1 Supporting online material] ] 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.

References

External links

* [http://earthsciences.ucr.edu/droser.html Mary Droser's home page]