Cambrian Fossil Assemblage - Cyanobacteria and Sponges

This specimen contains three different kinds of Cambrian life forms: 1) a large number of the filamentous Cyanobacteria Marpolia, which probably lived in free-floating masses. There are also two partial sponges of Choia utahensis as well as two Margaretia straps.

Margaretia was a thin, frond-like green algae similar to modern kelp. Although Briggs book (see reference below) shows up to three fronds growing from the base, in Utah I've only seen single and double fronds attached to the base. A few scientists believe Margaretia were a type of sponge or alcyonarian coral. Margaretia are one of the more common megascopic algae in the Wheeler and Marjum Formations, but they are usually poorly preserved and rarely have the contrast of this specimen.

Also see: Utah Cambrian Explosion Fossils