Wutubus

Wutubus annularis is a large tubular fossil from the Late Ediacaran of China and USA, between 551 - 541 Ma. It is the only species in the genus Wutubus.

Wutubus Temporal range: Ediacaran 551–541 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Incertae sedis
Genus:	†Wutubus Zhe Chen et al., 2014
Species:	†W. annularis
Binomial name
†Wutubus annularis Zhe Chen et al., 2014

Discovery and name

The first described specimens of Wutubus annularis were found in the Shibantan Member of the Dengying Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area of South China, which dates to 551-541 Mya during the late Ediacaran.^[1] Specimens have since been reported in late Ediacaran rocks of the Deep Spring Formation at Mount Dunfee, Nevada (USA).^[2]

The genus name Wutubus is derived from the name of the fossil locality near the village of Wuhe (Wu River) and from the Latin word tubus, to mean tube. The species epithet annularis is derived directly from the Latin word, annularis, with reference to the transverse annulae on the tube.^[1]

Description

Wutubus annularis is an annulated (ringed) tubular organism 20–180 mm (0.8–7.1 in) in length and 3–32 mm (0.1–1.3 in) in width. It is mostly cylindrical, with a conical end that tapers to an apex. It has been reconstructed as a benthic tubular organism living on the sediment surface, tethered to the substrate by its apex.^[1]