# List of Ediacaran genera

The existence of life, especially that of animals, before the Cambrian had long been the subject of debate in paleontology. The apparent suddenness of the Cambrian explosion had no firm explanation, and Charles Darwin himself recognized the challenge it posed for his theory of evolution. While reports of Precambrian organisms have been made since Alexander Murray's 1868 discovery of Aspidella, it wasn't until the discovery of Charnia in 1956 that considerable evidence of Precambrian life had been presented.
The period immediately preceding the Cambrian, the Ediacaran, is now widely accepted of containing animal life. It spans from 635 to 540 million years ago, and covers approximately 2% of Earth's history. There is a current total of 244 described genera from the Ediacaran, 161 of which are confirmed to be valid.

## Key

* Valid genus - Genera that have been confirmed to represent an organism
* Junior synonym - Alternative name for an already existing genus
* Unknown status - Unclear if it actually represents a unique organism
* Invalid - Have been found to not represent the remains of an organism, or are taphonomic varieties of other organisms

## List

| Name | Authors | Year | Affinity | Notes | Country |
| Albumares | Fedonkin | 1976 | Trilobozoa | | Russia |
| Alienum | Liu et al. | 2024 | Vetulicolia? | | China |
| Amorphia | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Anabylia | Vodanjuk | 1989 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Andiva | Fedonkin | 2002 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Anfesta | Fedonkin | 1984 | Trilobozoa | | Russia |
| Annulatubus | Calla A. Carbone et al. | 2015 | | | Canada |
| Annulusichnus | Zhang | 1986 | | Junior synonym of Gaojiashania, tubular fossil | China |
| Arborea | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Petalonamae | Was considered a junior synonym of Charniodiscus, now thought to be a colonial Eumetazoan unrelated to Rangeomorphs | Australia |
| Archaeaspinus | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Archaeichnium | Glaessner | 1963 | | Tubular conical fossil | Namibia |
| Archangelia | Fedonkin | 1979 | | Bilaterally symmetric organism with ovoid shape, and midline axial zone. Junior synonym of Onegia nenoxa (according to Grazhdankin, Ph.D. ms.). | Russia |
| Arimasia | Runnegar et al. | 2024 | Porifera | Early sponge, possibly a member of Archaeocyatha | Namibia |
| Arkarua | Gehling | 1987 | Echinodermata? | Has 5-sided symmetry similar to modern echinoderms | Australia |
| Armillifera | Fedonkin | 1980 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Arumberia | Glaessner et Walter | 1975 | | | Australia |
| Askinica | Bekker | 1996 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Aspidella | Billings | 1872 | | Biradial discoid fossil | Canada |
| Astra | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Atakia | Palij | 1979 | | | Ukraine |
| Attenborites | Droser et al. | 2018 | | | Australia |
| Auroralumina | Dunn et al. | 2022 | Cnidaria | | United Kingdom |
| Ausia | Hahn et Pflug | 1985 | | | Namibia |
| Avalofractus | Narbonne, Laflamme, Greentree et Trusler | 2009 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Aviculaichnus | Grytsenko | 2009 | | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | Ukraine |
| Baikalina | Sokolov | 1972 | | Junior synonym of Ernietta | Russia |
| Barmia | Bekker | 1996 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Beltanella | Sprigg | 1947 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Beltanelliformis | Menner | 1974 | Cyanobacterial colony | Discoid fossil | Russia |
| Beltanelloides | Sokolov | 1972 | | Nomen nudum, synonym of Beltanelliformis | Russia |
| Beothukis | Brasier et Antcliffe | 2009 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Bernashevia | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Bessarabia | Gureev | 1988 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Bilinichnus | Fedonkin et Palij | 1979 | Trace fossil | Trace fossil or pseudofossil | Russia |
| Blackbrookia | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structure | UK |
| Bomakellia | Fedonkin | 1985 | | Possible junior synonym of Rangea | Russia |
| Bonata | Fedonkin | 1980 | | | Russia |
| Brachina | Wade | 1972 | | | Australia |
| Bradgatia | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | Petalonamae | | UK |
| Bronicella | Zaika-Novatsky | 1965 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Buchholzbrunnichnus | Germs | 1973 | | | Namibia |
| Bunyerichnus | Glaessner | 1969 | | Pseudofossil | Australia |
| Burykhia | Fedonkin, Vickers-Rich, Swalla, Trusler et Hall | 2012 | Tunicata? | | Russia |
| Calyptrina | Sokolov | 1965 | Annelida? | Tubular fossil | Russia |
| Catellichnus | Bekker | 1989 | Palaeopascichnid | | Russia |
| Catenasphaerophyton | Yan et al. | 1992 | Palaeopascichnid | | China |
| Cephalonega | Fedonkin | 1976 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Charnia | Ford | 1958 | Petalonamae | | UK |
| Charniodiscus | Ford | 1958 | Petalonamae | | UK |
| Chondroplon | Wade | 1971 | | Probably a junior synonym of Dickinsonia | Australia |
| Cloudina | Germs | 1972 | Annelida? | Tubular fossil | Namibia |
| Cocardia | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Conomedusites | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Cnidaria? | | Australia |
| Conotubus | Zhang et Lin | 1986 | | Tubular fossil | China |
| Coronacollina | Clites, Droser et Gehling | 2012 | Porifera? | | Australia |
| Corumbella | Hahn, Hahn, Leonardos, Pflug et Walde | 1982 | | Tubular fossil | Brazil |
| Costatubus | Selly et al. | 2020 | | Tubular fossil | USA |
| Cyanorus | Ivantsov | 2004 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Cyclomedusa | Sprigg | 1947 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Cycliomedusa | Zhao et al. | 2024 | | Discoid fossil | China |
| Dactyloichnus | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Dickinsonia | Sprigg | 1947 | Proarticulata | | Australia |
| Ediacaria | Sprigg | 1947 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Elainabella | Stephen M. Rowland and Margarita G. Rodriguez | 2014 | Viridiplantae? | Multicellular alga | USA |
| Elasenia | Fedonkin | 1983 | | | Ukraine |
| Eoandromeda | Tang, Yin, Bengtson, Liu, Wang et Gao | 2008 | Ctenophora? | | China |
| Eocyathispongia | Zongjun Yin et al. | 2015 | Porifera? | Small 3 chambered sponge-like organism | China |
| Eoporpita | Wade | 1972 | | | Australia |
| Epibaion | Ivantsov | 2002 | Trace fossil | Grazing traces of Proarticulata | Russia |
| Ernietta | Pflug | 1966 | Petalonamae | | Namibia |
| Evmiaksia | Fedonkin | 1984 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Fedomia | Serezhnikova et Ivantsov | 2007 | Porifera? | | Russia |
| Flavostratum | Serezhnikova | 2013 | | | Russia |
| Fractofusus | Gehling et Narbonne | 2007 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Frondophyllas | Bamforth et Narbonne | 2009 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Funisia | Droser et Gehling | 2008 | | Tubular fossil | Australia |
| Finkoella | Andrej Martyshyn | 2021 | | F. ucrainica is a Pseudofossil, however F. oblonga is of microbial origin | Ukraine |
| Ganarake | Retallack | 2022 | Lichen? | First interpreted as tubestones, now thought to be earliest preserved remains of a Lichen | USA |
| Gaojiashania | Yang, Zhang et Lin | 1986 | Annelida? | Tubular fossil | China |
| Garania | Bekker | 1996 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Gehlingia | McMenamin | 1998 | | | Australia |
| Gibbavasis | Vaziri, Majidifard et Laflamme | 2018 | Tunicata? | Small, oval-shaped form similar to Ausia fenestrata | Iran |
| Gigarimaneta | Taylor et al. | 2021 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Glaessnerina | Germs | 1973 | | Junior synonym of Charnia | Australia |
| Gureevella | Menasova | 2006 | | | Ukraine |
| Hadrynichorde | Hofmann, O'Brien, et King | 2008 | | | Canada |
| Hagenetta | Hahn et Pflug | 1988 | | Junior synonym of Beltanelliformis | Namibia |
| Hallidaya | Wade | 1969 | Trilobozoa | | Australia |
| Haootia | Liu et al. | 2014 | Cnidaria | | Canada |
| Harlaniella | Sokolov | 1972 | Vendotaenid | Tubular fossil | Ukraine |
| Hapsidophyllas | Bamforth et Narbonne | 2009 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Helicolocellus | Wang et al. | 2024 | Porifera | Likely a hexactinellid | China |
| Hiemalora | Fedonkin | 1982 | | | Russia |
| Hylaecullulus | Kenchington, Dunn & Wilby | 2018 | Petalonamae | Multifoliate Petalonamid similar to Primocandelabrum and Bradgatia. | UK |
| Ichnusa | Debrenne et Naud | 1981 | Cnidaria | | Italy |
| Ikaria | Evans et al. | 2020 | | Stem-bilateran | Australia |
| Inaria | Gehling | 1987 | | | Australia |
| Inkrylovia | Fedonkin | 1979 | | Junior synonym of Onegia | Russia |
| Intrites | Fedonkin | 1980 | Palaeopascichnid | | Russia |
| Irridinitus | Fedonkin | 1983 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Ivesheadia | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structure | UK |
| Ivovicia | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Jampolium | Gureev | 1988 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Kaisalia | Fedonkin | 1984 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Karakhtia | Ivantsov | 2004 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Keretsa | Ivantsov | 2017 | | | Russia |
| Khatyspytia | Fedonkin | 1985 | | | Russia |
| Kimberella | Glaessner & Wade | 1966 | Mollusca? | | Australia |
| Kimberichnus | Ivantsov | 2013 | Trace fossil | Grazing traces of Kimberella | Russia |
| Komarovia | Grytsenko | 2016 | | Not to be confused with Komarovia, extant genus of flowering plant. | Ukraine |
| Kuibisia | Hahn et Pflug | 1985 | | | Namibia |
| Kuckaraukia | Razumovskiy, Ivantsov, Novikov et Korochantsev | 2015 | | | Russia |
| Lamonte | Meyer, Xiao, Gill, Schiffbauer, Chen, Zhou et Yuan | 2014 | Trace fossil | | China |
| Lantianella | Wan et al. | 2016 | | Putative animal, bears similarities to conulariids | China |
| Lobodiscus | Zhao et al. | 2024 | Trilobozoa | | China |
| Lomoziella | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Lomosovis | Fedonkin | 1983 | | | Ukraine |
| Lorenzinites | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | | Junior synonym of Rugoconites | Australia |
| Lossinia | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Madigania | Sprigg | 1949 | | Not Madigania (Whitley, 1945), replaced by the Spriggia | Australia |
| Mamsetia | McIlroy et al. | 2024 | Cnidaria | | Canada |
| Margaritiflabellum | Ivantsov | 2014 | | | Russia |
| Marywadea | Glaessner | 1976 | Proarticulata | | Australia |
| Mawsonites | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | | | Australia |
| Medusina | Sprigg | 1949 | | Not Medusina (Walcott, 1898), replaced by the Medusinites | Australia |
| Medusinites | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Medvezichnus | Fedonkin | 1985 | Trace fossil | Unique specimen of doubtful nature | Russia |
| Mezenia | Sokolov | 1976 | | | Russia |
| Mialsemia | Fedonkin | 1985 | | Junior synonym of Bomakellia (or Rangea) | Russia |
| Nadalina | Narbonne et Hofmann | 1987 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Canada |
| Namacalathus | Grotzinger, Watters, et Knoll | 2000 | | | Namibia |
| Namalia | Germs | 1968 | | | Namibia |
| Namamedusium | Zessin | 2008 | | Junior synonym of Beltanelliformis | Namibia |
| Namapoikia | Wood, Grotzinger et Dickson | 2002 | | | Namibia |
| Nasepia | Germs | 1973 | | | Namibia |
| Nemiana | Palij | 1976 | | Junior synonym of Beltanelliformis | Ukraine |
| Nenoxites | Fedonkin | 1976 | | | Russia |
| Nilpenia | Droser et al. | 2014 | | | Australia |
| Nimbia | Fedonkin | 1980 | | | Russia |
| Noffkarkys | Retallack and Broz | 2020 | | | Australia |
| Obamus | Dzaugis, Evans, Droser, Gehling et Hughes | 2018 | | | Australia |
| Olgerdina | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Onegia | Sokolov | 1976 | | | Russia |
| Orbisiana | Sokolov | 1976 | Palaeopascichnid | | Russia |
| Orthogonium | Gürich | 1930 | | | Namibia |
| Otavia | Brain et al. | 2012 | Porifera? | | Namibia |
| Ovatoscutum | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Proarticulata | | Australia |
| Palaeopascichnus | Palij | 1976 | Palaeopascichnid | | Ukraine |
| Palaeophragmodictya | Gehling et Rigby | 1996 | | | Australia |
| Palaeospinther | Menasova | 2003 | | | Ukraine |
| Palaeoplatoda | Fedonkin | 1979 | | | Russia |
| Paliella | Fedonkin | 1980 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Russia |
| Pambikalbae | Jenkins et Nedin | 2007 | | | Australia |
| Papillionata | Sprigg | 1947 | Proarticulata | Junior synonym of Dickinsonia | Australia |
| Paracharnia | Sun | 1986 | | | China |
| Paramedusium | Gürich | 1933 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Namibia |
| Paravendia | Ivantsov | 2004 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Parvancorina | Glaessner | 1958 | | | Australia |
| Parviscopa | Hofmann, O'Brien et King | 2008 | | | Canada |
| Pectinifrons | Bamforth, Narbonne et Anderson | 2008 | | | Canada |
| Persimedusites | Hahn et Pflug | 1980 | | | Iran |
| Petalostoma | Pflug | 1973 | | Rejected as valid taxon | Namibia |
| Phyllozoon | Jenkins et Gehlig | 1978 | Proarticulata | | Australia |
| Piyuania | Wan et al. | 2016 | | Putative animal, bears similarities to Cnidaria | China |
| Planomedusites | Sokolov | 1972 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Platypholinia | Fedonkin | 1985 | | | Russia |
| Plexus | Joel, Droser & Gehling | 2014 | Bilateria | Although more studies are needed, it has been identified as bilaterian. | Australia |
| Podolimirus | Fedonkin | 1983 | Proarticulata | | Ukraine |
| Podoliina | Gureev | 1988 | | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | Ukraine |
| Pollukia | Gureev | 1987 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Pomoria | Fedonkin | 1980 | | Junior synonym of Tribrachidium | Russia |
| Praecambridium | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | Proarticulata | | Australia |
| Primocandelabrum | Hofmann, O'Brien et King | 2008 | | | Canada |
| Propalaeolina | Menasova | 2006 | | Tubular fossil | Ukraine |
| Protechiurus | Glaessner | 1979 | | | Namibia |
| Protodipleurosoma | Sprigg | 1949 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Protoniobea | Sprigg | 1949 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Pseudohiemaloraichnus | Grytsenko | 2009 | | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | Ukraine |
| Pseudorhizostomites | Sprigg | 1949 | | Problematic biogenic structure | Australia |
| Pseudorhopilema | Sprigg | 1949 | | Junior synonym of Pseudorhizostomites | Australia |
| Pseudovendia | Boynton et Ford | 1979 | | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structures | UK |
| Pteridinium | Gürich | 1933 | Petalonamae | | Namibia |
| Qianchuania | Wan et al. | 2016 | | Putative animal, bears similarities to Cnidaria | China |
| Quaestio | Evans et al. | 2024 | | | Australia |
| Ramellina | Fedonkin | 1980 | | | Russia |
| Rangea | Gürich | 1929 | Petalonamae | | Namibia |
| Redkinia | Sokolov | 1977 | | | Russia |
| Rugoconites | Glaessner et Wade | 1966 | | | Australia |
| Saarina | Sokolov | 1965 | | Tubular fossil | Russia |
| Seirisphaera | Chen, Xiao et Yuan | 1996 | Palaeopascichnid | Junior synonym of Orbisiana | China |
| Sekwia | Hofmann | 1981 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Canada |
| Sekwitubulus | Calla A. Carbone et al. | 2015 | | Tubular fossil | Canada |
| Serebrina | Istchenko | 1983 | | | Ukraine |
| Shaanxilithes | Xing, Yue et Zhang | 1984 | | Junior synonym of Nenoxites | China |
| Shepshedia | Boynton et Ford | 1995 | | Rejected as valid taxon, "ivesheadiomorph"-type fossil structure | UK |
| Sinotubulites | Chen, Chen et Qian | 1981 | | Tubular fossil | China |
| Skinnera | Wade | 1969 | Trilobozoa | | Australia |
| Skolithos declinatus | Fedonkin | 1985 | Trace fossil | | Russia |
| Solza | Ivantsov | 2004 | | | Russia |
| Somatohelix | Sappenfield, Droser et Gehling | 2011 | | Tubular fossil | Australia |
| Spriggia | Southcott | 1958 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Spriggina | Glaessner | 1958 | Proarticulata | | Australia |
| Staurinidia | Fedonkin | 1985 | | | Russia |
| Stellaria | Grytsenko | 2016 | | Not to be confused with Stellaria, extant genus of flowering plant. | Ukraine |
| Streptichnus | Jensen et Runnegar | 2005 | Vendotaenid or Trace fossil | | Namibia |
| Studenicia | Gureev | 1983 | | Putative Monocraterion trace fossil | Ukraine |
| Suzmites | Fedonkin | 1981 | | Junior synonym of Onegia | Russia |
| Swartpuntia | Narbonne, Saylor et Grotzinger | 1997 | Petalonamae | | Namibia |
| Tamga | Ivantsov | 2007 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Tateana | Sprigg | 1949 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Australia |
| Temnoxa | Ivantsov | 2004 | Mollusca? | | Russia |
| Thectardis | Clapham, Narbonne, Gehling, Greentree et Anderson | 2004 | Porifera? | | Canada |
| Tirasiana | Palij | 1976 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Trepassia | Narbonne, Laflamme, Greentree et Trusler | 2009 | Petalonamae | | Canada |
| Tribrachidium | Glaessner | 1959 | Trilobozoa | | Australia |
| Triforillonia | Gehling, Narbonne et Anderson | 2000 | | Deformed Aspidella | Canada |
| Uncus | Hughes, Evans, Droser | 2024 | Ecdysozoa | Possible stem nematoid | Australia |
| Vaizitsinia | Sokolov et Fedonkin | 1981 | | Junior synonym of Rangea | Russia |
| Valdainia | Fedonkin | 1983 | Proarticulata | | Ukraine |
| Vaveliksia | Fedonkin | 1983 | Porifera? | | Ukraine |
| Velancorina | Pflug | 1966 | | | Namibia |
| Vendella | Gureev | 1987 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters | Ukraine |
| Vendia | Keller | 1969 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Vendichnus | Fedonkin | 1979 | | Possible pseudofossil | Russia |
| Vendoconularia | Ivantsov et Fedonkin | 2002 | Conulata | | Russia |
| Vendoglossa | Seilacher | 2007 | | Junior synonym of Protechiurus | Namibia |
| Vendomia | Keller | 1976 | Proarticulata | Junior synonym of Dickinsonia | Russia |
| Vendomyces | M. B. Burzin | 1993 | Chytridiomycetes | | Russia |
| Vendotaenia | Gnilovskaya | 1971 | Vendotaenid | Tubular fossil | Russia |
| Ventogyrus | Ivantsov et Grazhdankin | 1997 | Ctenophora? | | Russia |
| Veprina | Fedonkin | 1980 | | | Russia |
| Vernanimalcula | Chen J. Y | 2004 | | | China |
| Vimenites | Fedonkin | 1980 | | | Russia |
| Vinlandia | Brasier, Antcliffe et Liu | 2012 | | | Canada |
| Virgatia | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Vladimissa | Fedonkin | 1985 | | | Russia |
| Wigwamiella | Runnegar | 1991 | | Discoid fossil with no clear diagnostic characters. Regarded as a taphomorph of Aspidella or junior synonym for Pseudorhizostomites | Australia |
| Windermeria | Narbonne | 1994 | Proarticulata | | Canada |
| Wutubus | Chen, Zhou, Xiao, Wang, Guan, Hong et Yuan | 2014 | | Tubular fossil | China |
| Yangtziramulus | Shen, Xiao, Zhou et Yuan | 2009 | | | China |
| Yarnemia | Nesov in Chistyakov et al. | 1984 | Tunicata? | | Russia |
| Yelovichnus | Fedonkin | 1985 | Palaeopascichnid | Junior synonym of Palaeopascichnus | Russia |
| Yorgia | Ivantsov | 1999 | Proarticulata | | Russia |
| Yilingia | Xiao et al. | 2020 | Bilateria | | China |
| Yuria | Grytsenko | 2016 | | | Ukraine |
| Zolotytsia | Fedonkin | 1981 | | | Russia |