Abstract
The relative positions of the continents during the late Precambrian (˜600 Myr BP) are still largely a matter of speculation1. Three reconstructions2–5, based principally on palaeomagnetic and tectonic data, suggest that the continents were joined to form one supercontinent. This supercontinent may have been approximately equatorial2, subpolar to subpolar3,4, or polar to equatorial5 in trend. Here I test these reconstructions by plotting the distribution of the late Precambrian Ediacaran fauna1 and show that the equatorial and subpolar to subpolar models are the most acceptable as templates for metazoan palaeobiogeography.
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Donovan, S. The fit of the continents in the late Precambrian. Nature 327, 139–141 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/327139a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/327139a0
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