https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.12242

"Abstract

The early Ediacaran Lantian Formation in South China contains some of
the oldest known representatives of morphologically complex
macroorganisms, including various macroalgae and putative animals. The
macroalgal fossils have been described previously in several
publications, but no taxonomic treatment has been published for the
putative animal fossils. This hampers our ability to fully evaluate and
communicate the significance of these potentially important Ediacaran
macrofossils. To address this deficiency, here we provide a systematic
description of these putative animal fossils from the Lantian Formation,
including four new genera and five new species: Lantianella laevis gen.
et sp. nov., L. annularis gen. et sp. nov., Piyuania cyathiformis gen.
et sp. nov., Qianchuania fusiformis gen. et sp. nov. and Xiuningella
rara gen. et sp. nov. Morphological comparisons of these fossils and
potential modern analogues are provided and critically assessed."

This is an article I missed (2016) that describes very-well preserved
fossils in the Lantian formation. Among other hard-to-assign specimens
is a conical specimen consisting of a basal holdfast and topped with
structures strongly suggesting tentacles. The resemblance to cnidarians
is unmistakable. The authorship has strong credentials in Ediacaran
research.

On 11/5/24 8:48 AM, erik simpson wrote:
> https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.12242
>
>
> "Abstract
>
> The early Ediacaran Lantian Formation in South China contains some of
> the oldest known representatives of morphologically complex
> macroorganisms, including various macroalgae and putative animals. The
> macroalgal fossils have been described previously in several
> publications, but no taxonomic treatment has been published for the
> putative animal fossils. This hampers our ability to fully evaluate and
> communicate the significance of these potentially important Ediacaran
> macrofossils. To address this deficiency, here we provide a systematic
> description of these putative animal fossils from the Lantian Formation,
> including four new genera and five new species: Lantianella laevis gen.
> et sp. nov., L. annularis gen. et sp. nov., Piyuania cyathiformis gen.
> et sp. nov., Qianchuania fusiformis gen. et sp. nov. and Xiuningella
> rara gen. et sp. nov. Morphological comparisons of these fossils and
> potential modern analogues are provided and critically assessed."
>
> This is an article I missed (2016) that describes very-well preserved
> fossils in the Lantian formation.  Among other hard-to-assign specimens
> is a conical specimen consisting of a basal holdfast and topped with
> structures strongly suggesting tentacles.  The resemblance to cnidarians
> is unmistakable.  The authorship has strong credentials in Ediacaran
> research.

If they're metazoans, they might be the oldest metazoan fossils, though
apparently they're roughly contemporaneous with the Doushantuo biota.

On 11/5/24 10:06 AM, John Harshman wrote:
> On 11/5/24 8:48 AM, erik simpson wrote:
>> https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pala.12242
>>
>>
>> "Abstract
>>
>> The early Ediacaran Lantian Formation in South China contains some of
>> the oldest known representatives of morphologically complex
>> macroorganisms, including various macroalgae and putative animals. The
>> macroalgal fossils have been described previously in several
>> publications, but no taxonomic treatment has been published for the
>> putative animal fossils. This hampers our ability to fully evaluate
>> and communicate the significance of these potentially important
>> Ediacaran macrofossils. To address this deficiency, here we provide a
>> systematic description of these putative animal fossils from the
>> Lantian Formation, including four new genera and five new species:
>> Lantianella laevis gen. et sp. nov., L. annularis gen. et sp. nov.,
>> Piyuania cyathiformis gen. et sp. nov., Qianchuania fusiformis gen. et
>> sp. nov. and Xiuningella rara gen. et sp. nov. Morphological
>> comparisons of these fossils and potential modern analogues are
>> provided and critically assessed."
>>
>> This is an article I missed (2016) that describes very-well preserved
>> fossils in the Lantian formation.  Among other hard-to-assign
>> specimens is a conical specimen consisting of a basal holdfast and
>> topped with structures strongly suggesting tentacles.  The resemblance
>> to cnidarians is unmistakable.  The authorship has strong credentials
>> in Ediacaran research.
>
> If they're metazoans, they might be the oldest metazoan fossils, though
> apparently they're roughly contemporaneous with the Doushantuo biota.
All true, they're only ~10 My after the Doushantuo. Any further with a
particular phylum identification is bound to be uncertain.