Archaeocyathids were very widespread & successful reef builders in the early Cambrian, but suddenly went extinct in the mid Cambrian and no one knows why!
In this video, I talk about the incredible diversity and success of Archeacyathids and the mysteries that surround them. The two major mysteries regarding Archeaocyathids are their classification and their extinction. For a long time we had no idea how to classify them, whether they were sponges, corals, or something else entirely. Now, we typically classify them as sponges, but some scientists still believe they belong in their own separate phylum. The second mystery, their extinction, has also puzzled scientists for decades. Here, I go over a few different hypotheses for why Archeaocyathids went extinct, but ultimately, we still don't know for sure what brought their incredible success to an end. I encourage you to pursue this field of research if you are interested as it will help us solve these mysteries! ;D
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0:00 Ediacaran Faun & Cambrian Explosion
0:46 Mysterious Cambrian Animal
1:19 What were Archaeocyathids?
3:48 Why were they so successful?
6:05 Why did they go extinct?
References:
Prothero, D.R. (2013). Bringing Fossils to Life: An Introduction to Paleobiology- https://amzn.to/46V2BBT
Porifera | Digital Atlas of Ancient Life- https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife...
Erwin & Tweedt, 2012 (Ecological drivers of the Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-011-95...
Vera, 2022 (Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record- 2nd Edition): https://doi.org/10.5710/1851-8044-59....
Pruss et al., 2010 (Carbonates in skeleton-poor seas): https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2009.p09...
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Watch video The Early Animal That Should’ve Never Gone Extinct🪸 GEO GIRL online, duration hours minute second in high quality that is uploaded to the channel GEO GIRL 27 August 2023. Share the link to the video on social media so that your subscribers and friends will also watch this video. This video clip has been viewed 24,803 times and liked it 1.6 thousand visitors.