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Extended Data Fig. 2 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Extended Data Fig. 2 | Constrained phylogenetic topologies. (a) 'Ctenosis' (ctenophores as sister to all other animals) constrained. (b) Living cnidarian inter-relationships constrained against recent molecular phylogenies. All fossils were allowed to fully explore treespace under both set of constraints. Auroralumina is recovered as a cnidarian in both cases. Fossil cnidarians are shown in bold and the position of Auroralumina highted with with a silhouette. Scale bar for branch lengths is in units of expected number of substitutions per site.

Extended Data Fig. 1 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Extended Data Fig. 1 | Unconstrained phylogenetic topologies presented in full. (a) Excluding the fossil taxa Namacalathus and Eolympia, Antipathes and those taxa that posses uninformative character states after safe taxonomic reduction (b) including all taxa. Auroralumina is recovered as a cnidarian in both trees. Fossil cnidarians are shown in bold and the position of Auroralumina is highlighted with a silhouette. Scale bar for branch lengths is in units of expected number of substitutions per site.

Fig. 4 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Fig. 4 | The Phylogenetic position of Auroralumina attenboroughii. a, Artistic reconstruction of Auroralumina. b, Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of animals (348 characters, 108 taxa, mk + gamma model) incorporating Auroralumina attenboroughii. Numbers indicate posterior probabilities and scale bar shows expected number of substitutions per site. Fossils are indicated by dagger symbols. Raw polyp width is shown on the right, with the mean size shown for the extant groups sampled (for logged polyp size graph, see Extended Data Fig. 3). Branch length shown. Maximum polyp width data also shown in Extended Data Fig. 3. NA indicates where ancestral state values were inapplicable because they were derived from characters recovered as absent.

Fig. 5 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Fig. 5 | Tubular morphospace occupation across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition. a–c, The sum of variances (a), sum of ranges (b) and the median of centroids (c) for tubular morphospace occupation. The sum of variances examines the evenness of morphospace occupation, the sum of ranges examines the extent of morphospace occupation in all computed dimensions and the median of centroids measures the clustering of taxa around a central point. Adding Auroralumina increases the sum of variances, ranges and (marginally) the median of centroids compared to Ediacaran morphospace excluding Auroralumina. The boxes represent the interquartile range, with black line showing the median. The whiskers indicate minimum (Q1 − 1.5 × IQR) and maximum (Q3 + 1.5 × IQR), excluding outliers. Outliers are shown in black squares. d, Morphospace occupation with convex hulls showing Ediacaran morphospace occupation with and without Auroralumina and Cambrian morphospace occupation. Black circles represent Ediacaran taxa and white circles represent Cambrian taxa.

Fig. 3 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Fig. 3 | Details of the distal anatomy of Auroralumina attenboroughii (GSM 106119) and the mode of preservation. a, Left-hand goblet, with dense crown of overlapping tentacles and conspicuous corner sulcus (now a ridge) and band (now a trench) near the aperture rim. The margins of the fossil are well-defined and the tentacle crown texturally and topographically distinct from the smooth periderm. b, Interpretative drawing of region in a. c, Right-hand goblet, principally preserving only one face but with a second partially visible where its edge (and intervening corner sulcus) was twisted into the plane of preservation, towards the right-hand side. d, Interpretative drawing of region in c. Specimen photographed under low-angle light and interpretations based on features revealed by varying the lighting direction. Scale bar in a and c, 5 cm. e,f, Preservation of the goblet and tentacles of A. attenboroughii. e, Apical view of the two goblets showing how their different orientations at the time of burial generated different views of the tetraradial structure in the fossil in lateral aspect. Schematic goblets (labelled 1 and 2) are representative of the two goblets in Auroralumina. The interpretative drawing of Auroralumina is also shown, with goblets labelled 1 and 2 next to a conulariid cnidarian (OUMNH DU17), also inferred to have been tetraradial in life, to illustrate analogous preservation of multiple faces in lateral view. f, Hypothetical arrangement of the tentacles in oral view in vivo and probable arrangement of tentacles in lateral view at time of burial along with proposed preservational pathway of the tentacles. 1: Tentacles, mostly overlapping, buried by sediment. 2: Partial retraction and deflation postmortem. 3: Decay and casting of the resultant space by sediment from below.

Fig. 2 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Fig. 2 | Details of the proximal part of the holotype specimen of Auroralumina (GSM 106119). a, Interpretative drawing of entire specimen, with area shown in b–d outlined. b, Base of the preserved specimen, showing progressive cover of the left-hand goblet towards the bifurcation point and the mostly concealed proximal part of the right-hand goblet. The margins of the fossil in the concealed area are impressed—albeit weakly—through the sediment and the area underlain by the skeleton is defined by a change in sediment texture. Fossil photographed under low-angle light. c, Interpretative overlay, generated by combining observations made under multiple lighting directions. d, Interpretative drawing from c, showing symmetrical bifurcation of the two goblets and probable broken proximal termination of the specimen. Key in d covers all annotations in this figure. Scale bar in b and c, 5 cm.

Fig. 1 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Fig. 1 | Holotype specimen of Auroralumina attenboroughii. a, In context alongside rangeomorph fossils preserved in a comparable manner and distinct from the textured background substrate (GSM 105874); imaged under low-angle light. b,c, Plastotype (GSM 106119) (b) and interpretative drawing (c) showing the differentiated stalk and cup of each goblet, well-defined corner sulci (now ridges) and texturally distinct tentacles. The proximal portions of both goblets, including their mutual branching point, are concealed beneath a thin cover of sediment but are nonetheless discernible as topographically and texturally distinct tracts (dashed grey line); see Fig. 2 for more information. RTI file available76.

Extended Data Fig. 3 in A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK

Extended Data Fig. 3 | Maximum polyp width in cnidarians. Maximum polyp width plotted for extant cnidarian Classes and fossil groups. Auroralumina has a much larger polyp width than any other sampled medusozoan. Maximum conulariid polyp width is also larger than any sampled living medusozoan. Source data available with manuscript.

Fig. 8 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 8: Live scleractinians from Tricase (all from st. MEMA12-36). (A) Juvenile Desmophyllum dianthus (14) growing on subfossil Madrepora; bar = 1 cm; (B) Co-occurring live Lophelia pertusa (10), Madrepora oculata (7) and D. dianthus (14); bar = 1 cm.; (C) Dead Madrepora frame colonized by D. dianthus (14) and Poecillastra compressa (22); bar = 1 cm; (D) Live L. pertusa; bar = 5 cm.

Fig. 2 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 2: (A) Paramuricea macrospina (1) growing on muddy bottom at st. A65; bar =10 cm; (B-D) Gorgonians (P. macrospina: 1 and Callogorgia verticillata: 3) and sponges (Pachastrella monilifera: 2) co-occurring at st. A65 and ALTRO31; bar = 10 cm; (E) Large colony of C. verticillata (3); note the unidentified nudibranch (4, red circle) at st. ALTRO31; bar = 10 cm; (F) The yellow coral Dendrophyllia cornigera (5) at st. ALTRO31; note the sponge P. monilifera (2) growing on subfossil branches of D. cornigera and the Euphasiacean Stylocheiron sp. (6); bar = 5 cm; (G) Madrepora oculata (7) fouling a lost fishline at st. A67; bar = 10 cm; (H) A gorgonian garden at st. ALTRO31 characterized by many individuals of C. verticillata (3) growing over a hardground; bar = 25 cm.

Fig. 3 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 3: Montenegrin margin. (A) Hardground at st. ALTRO31 colonized by gorgonians Callogorgia verticillata (3) and Paramuricea macrospina (1); note the pencil sea urchin Cidaris cidaris (8), one of the most common vagile organisms observable at such depths; bar = 25 cm; (B) A large colony of the anthipatharian Leiopathes glaberrima (11) settled by the scleractinian Lophelia pertusa (10) at st. A63; observe Rochinia rissoana (9) in the coral frame and the abundant zooplankton in the surrounding water (i.e. Stylocheiron sp.: 6); bar = 10 cm; (C) The fish Phycis phycis (12) hidden under a hardground at st. A63; bar = 10 cm; (D) Close-up of L. pertusa (10) growing on L. glaberrima (11) at st. A63 surrounded by abundant zooplankton (i.e. the euphasiacean Stylocheiron sp.: 6), bar = 10 cm; (E) A remarkable cnidarian assemblage at st. ALTRO35 ca. -505 m water depth, formed by a large (up to 2 m) colony of L. glaberrima (11), the scleractinians Madrepora oculata (7) and L. pertusa (10) and Desmophyllum dianthus (14); inset shows the byssate bivalve Delectopecten vitreus (13) and Annelida (Serpula vermicularis: 15) attached to L. glaberrima (11). C. verticillata (3) is visible below on the right. Scale bar = 10 cm; (F) The "Gorgonian garden" at st. A65 formed by a dense aggregation of C. verticillata colonies (3). The red circle shows the gorgonian P. macrospina (1). Scale bar = 10 cm.

Fig. 6 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 6: Coral-sponge assemblages from the Bari Canyon. (A) Assemblage dominated by the white sponge Pachastrella monilifera (2) at st. A210; insets show an actiniarian belonging to the genus Peachia in the soft sediments (23); and the vagrant echinoid Echinus melo (24); bar = 25 cm; (B) The shrimp Plesionika martia (20) on Madrepora oculata (7) - Serpula vermicularis (15) bioconstruction at st. A210, undetermined fish belonging to the family Argentinidae (25); bar = 25 cm; (C) Madrepora-Pachastrella assemblage at st. A210; note the tiny seastar Peltaster placenta (27) hidden under the coral frame, and the encrusting yellow sponge Hexadella sp. (26); bar = 10 cm; (D) Canyon's flank at st. A210 showing the conspicuous presence of serpulids, mostly Bispira sp. (28) and the presence of the vagrant echinoid Cidaris cidaris (8); bar = 10 cm; (E) Benthos at st. A210 showing the encrusting sponge Hexadella sp. (26) and the cup-like sponge P. monilifera (2); also note the asteroid P. placenta (27); bar = 10 cm; (F) Scleractinian-sponge-serpulid cluster at st. A210, inset shows close-up of the sponges P. monilifera (2) and Poecillastra compressa (22); note the echinoid E. melo (24) and the scleractinian M. oculata (7); bar =10 cm; (G) The fish Phycis blennoides (29) and a fish related to family Argentinidae (25), foraging next to coral-sponge grounds at st. A210 (M. oculata 7; P. monilifera 2); bar = 10 cm; (H) Close-up of the orange cup-like sponge P. compressa (22) at st. A208, sheltering the decapod P. martia (20); note M. oculata (7) on the left side of the sponge; bar = 10 cm.

Fig. 5 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 5: Underwater photographs from the Bari Canyon. (A, B) Hardgrounds and boulders along the canyon's flank at st. A208 colonized by a cnidarian-sponge assemblage dominated by Madrepora oculata (7) and Pachastrella monilifera (2); note the occurrence of orange sponge (Poecillastra compressa: 22) and Cidaris cidaris (8) one of most common elements of the vagile bathyal benthos; bar = 25 cm; (C) Close-up of a cnidarian-sponge assemblage at st. A208 showing the coalescent growth of sponges and corals, and the subordinate presence of Serpula vermicularis (15); bar = 25 cm; (D) Intimately associated S. vermicularis (15) and M. oculata (7) established on a hardground crest at st. A210; bar =10 cm.

Fig. 1 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 1: Location of sites discussed in this study. Bathymetry from EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) Hydrography portal (resolution 500 m) (http://www. emodnet-hydrography.eu).

Fig. 7 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 7: Cnidarian habitats in the Bari Canyon: (A) Assemblage dominated by white massive sponges (Pachastrella monilifera: 2) and scleractinians (Madrepora oculata: 7) at st. A208; note Plesionika martia (20), one of the most recurrent decapods in such habitats; bar = 10 cm; (B) Hardground at st. A208, colonized by encrusting sponges (Hexadella sp.: 26) and serpulids (Parasabella sp.: 30); bar =10 cm; (C) Colony of the yellow coral Dendrophyllia cornigera (5) at st. A210, note the fish belonging to the family Myctophidae (31); bar = 10 cm; (D) Vermiliopsis sp. (32) and Serpula vermicularis (15) are the main constituents of the cnidarianserpulid assemblage at st. A208; Echinus melo (24) is probably grazing on a M. oculata (7) colony; bar = 10 cm; (E) M. oculata (7) - S. vermicularis (15) cluster at st. A210; bar =10 cm; (F) Canyon's flank at st. A210, inhabited by sponges (P. monilifera, 2; Hexadella sp., 26), cnidarians (M. oculata, 7) and serpulids (S. vermicularis, 15) plus vagile echinoids (Cidaris cidaris, 8); bar = 25 cm; (G, H) Scleractinian-sponge dominated habitats at st. A210, (M. oculata: 7, P. monilifera: 2, Hexadella sp.: 26), serving also as refuge for the decapods Munida tenuimana (18) and P. martia (20); the sea anemone Peachia sp. (23) inhabit surrounding soft substrata; bar = 10 cm.

Fig. 4 in New deep-water cnidarian sites in the southern Adriatic Sea

Fig. 4: Non-sessile fauna associated with cnidarian assemblages in the Montenegrin margin. (A) Large Madrepora oculata bush (up to 1 m) (7), at st. ALTRO36, hosting the crab Bathynectes maravigna (16), inset shows Helicolenus dactylopterus (17); (B) Munida tenuimana (18) taking shelter under hardground at st. ALTRO31; (C) Paromola cuvieri (19) carrying the sponge Pachastrella monilifera on its back (2) (possibly an antipredatory strategy: Capezzuto et al., 2012); (D) The shrimp Plesionika martia (20) and the fish Hoplostethus mediterraneus (21) from st. ALTRO31.

Fig. 5. Medusozoan cnidarian Sphenothallus sica Salter, 1856 in Clonal colony in the Early Devonian cnidarian Sphenothallus from Brazil

Fig. 5. Medusozoan cnidarian Sphenothallus sica Salter, 1856 (DNPM 329) from the Early Devonian Ponta Grossa Formation, Paraná State, southern Brazil. A1, marginal daughter tubes 5 and 6 (black arrows) and the isolated guyot-like feature (white arrow) between them; A2, side view of the guyotlike basal portion of marginal daughter tube 4 (arrow); A3, detail of daughter tubes 6 and 8, arrows indicate places where compaction has caused the intact marginal thickenings to appear as narrow, levee-like berms. Scale bars: A1, A2, 500 μm; A3, 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Medusozoan cnidarian Sphenothallus sica Salter, 1856 in Clonal colony in the Early Devonian cnidarian Sphenothallus from Brazil

Fig. 4. Medusozoan cnidarian Sphenothallus sica Salter, 1856 (DNPM 329) from the Early Devonian Ponta Grossa Formation, Paraná State, southern Brazil. The numbers 1–16 indicate the evident, marginal daughter tubes, while the letter P indicates the parent tube. A. Reproduction of Clarke's (1913) drawing. B. Light photographs. B1, general view; 17?, the possible basal portion of a seventeenth daughter tube; B2, detail, the arrow indicates a short longitudinal cross section through one of the marginal thickenings. Also present, near this site, is apparent spalling of fine lamellae. Scale bars: A, B1, 16 mm; C, 4 mm.

Fig. 6 in Clonal colony in the Early Devonian cnidarian Sphenothallus from Brazil

Fig. 6. Medusozoan cnidarian Sphenothallus sp. on a possible orthoconic cephalopod; from the Upper Ordovician (Katian 1–2) Utica Shale, Cap Santé, Québec, Canada. Light photographs of epibiontic tubes. A. MPEP1144.1, A2 detail of A1. B. MPEP1144.2. Scale bars A1, 5 mm; A2, B, 3 mm.

Fig. 3 in Clonal colony in the Early Devonian cnidarian Sphenothallus from Brazil

Fig. 3. Measured stratigraphical column of the Ponta Grossa Formation, Jaguariaíva section (from Simões et al. 2009). Abbreviations: M, mudstone, S, siltstone, FS, fine sandstone, MS, medium sandstone, CS, coarse sandstone.