The Charnia - Is it an Animal or a Plant?

Is it an animal or a plant?

This is a Fossil named Charnia. It was discovered in 1950's by an English Student (turned Geologist) named Roger Mason. It was named after Charnwood Forest where it was discovered.

But what is it? Is it an animal or plant? 

Because it came from such a remote period, the distinction between those two forms of life weren't clear. But one thing's for sure.... It most certainly was Alive.

Charnia was an ancient marine organism that lived in darkness at the bottom of the ocean. That much we know. 

What is this strange creature? When did it first appear? And how is it related to the animals that we know today?

To find out the answers to these questions, people went back to the rocks where it was discovered. In fact, people began to look for rocks similar to where the Charnia was discovered not only in the Charnwood Forest, but around the world. 

And low and behold, they discovered a whole array of fossils that enabled them to put together, in extraordinary detail, a glimpse of how life started.

But that all happened a very long time ago.

Photo Source: BBC - First Life