Vendian

The Vendian is a geological period of time that preceded the Cambrian Explosion. It is now formally recognized as the Ediacaran Period, which spans from 635 to 541 million years ago. The term "Vendian" was formerly used to refer to this period, particularly in Russia, and can still be encountered in older literature. The Ediacaran is characterized by the appearance of the first widespread multicellular life forms, known as the Ediacaran biota. These organisms were primarily soft-bodied and often sessile, displaying unique forms unlike most modern animals. Fossil sites such as the Ediacara Hills in Australia and Mistaken Point in Newfoundland have yielded significant discoveries of these ancient life forms. The end of the Ediacaran marked the beginning of the Paleozoic Era and a dramatic increase in biodiversity.