Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The Ediacaran Period is a geological time period that spans from approximately 635 to 541 million years ago. It marks the emergence of large, complex multicellular life forms before the Cambrian explosion.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Ediacaran biota includes some of the earliest known complex multicellular organisms.
The period is characterized by soft-bodied organisms that left behind few fossilized remains.
Ediacaran fossils are primarily found in sandstone and shale deposits.
Many Ediacaran organisms exhibit radial or fractal symmetry, unlike later bilaterian animals.
The end of the Ediacaran Period saw a significant increase in biodiversity leading into the Cambrian Period.
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Related terms
Cambrian Explosion: A rapid diversification of life forms that occurred around 541 million years ago, immediately following the Ediacaran Period.
Multicellular Organisms: Organisms composed of more than one cell, which emerged during the Ediacaran Period.
Radial Symmetry: A type of symmetry where body parts are arranged around a central axis, common in many Ediacaran organisms.