Veprina Explained

Veprina is a rare Ediacaran coelenterate cnidarian found on the Zimny coast of the White Sea, Russia and was first described by Mikhail Fedonkin in 1980.^[1]

Diversity

Veprina is a monotypic genus, with its only species being V. undosa. One trace fossil is attributed to the species.^[2]

Description

Veprina has an oval-shaped body, with a diameter up to 60mm in width, and consists of an outer and inner ribbed zone. The inner zone consist of ridges that may or may not have been tentacles. An elongated central depression of the body can be seen, which probably imparts a bilateral character, which possibly corresponds to the oral aperture.^{[3] [4]}

Discovery

Veprina was discovered on the Zimny coast of the White Sea, Russia and was described by Mikhail A. Fedonkin in 1980.

Distribution

Besides being found in the White Sea, a trace fossil of Veprina was also found in the Varyshev Formation on the Derlo Rver bank, Mogilev – Podolsky, Ukraine. The fossil has been described as feeding and locomotion traces of Veprina.

Ecology

Having only one complete fossil specimen discovered, this makes interpretations of the ecology of the animal difficult to interpret. The trace fossil discovered in Ukraine suggests that the animal itself was capable of locomotion and was probably an active feeder.

See also

• List of Ediacaran genera
• Mikhail Fedonkin
• White Sea

References

1. Book: The Rise of Animals: Evolution and Diversification of the Kingdom Animalia. Mikhail A.. Fedonkin. Mikhail A. (Head Fedonkin, Laboratory of Precambrian Organisms Russian Academy of. Sciences). James G.. Gehling. James G. (Senior Curator Gehling, retired 6 27 2019 South Australian. Museum). Kathleen. Grey. Guy M.. Narbonne. Patricia. Vickers-Rich. Patricia (Director Vickers-Rich, Monash. University). March 16, 2007. JHU Press. 9780801886799. June 4, 2022. Google Books.
2. Book: Ivantsov, A. Y. . Upper Vendian macrofossils of Eastern Europe Middle Dniester area and Volhynia . V. P. Gritsenko, V. M. Paliy, V. A. Velіkanov, L. I. Konstantinenko, A. Sh Menasova, M. A. Fedonkin, M. A. Zakrevskaya, and E. A. Serezhnikova . 2015 . 9785903825325 . Moscow . 113 . Atlas of macrofossils from upper Vendian and lower Cambrian of middle Dniester area and Volhynia . 949268086.
3. Fedonkin. M. A.. 1980. New representatives of the Precambrian coelenterates in the northern Russian platform. Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal. 5. 7–15.
4. Book: The Vendian system. 1990. Springer-Verlag. Sokolov, B. S. (Boris Sergeevich), 1914-2013., Ivanovskiĭ, A. B. (Andreĭ Borisovich), Fedonkin, M. A. (Mikhail Aleksandrovich). 3540501428. Berlin. 86–87. Systematic descriptions of Vendian metazoa. 20490926.