Vaveliksia

Vaveliksia is an extinct genus of sponges or sponge-like organisms from the Ediacaran period .
Etymology.
The generic epithet "Vaveliksia" and specific epithet of the type species "V. velikanovi" honor the Ukrainian geologist, Vyacheslav A. Velikanov.
The specific epithet of "V. vana" comes from the Latin "vana", "incorporeal."
Occurrence.
"Vaveliksia velikanovi" fossils were found in the Lomozov Beds of the Mogilev Formation in the Dniester River Basin, and in Bernashevka Beds, Yaryshev Formation, in the quarry near Ozaryntsi Village, Podolia, Ukraine
"V. vana" fossils are known from the Yorga Formation on the Zimnii Bereg (Winter Coast) of the White Sea, Arkhangelsk Region, Russia. There is single reference to "V. vana" from the Ediacaran deposites in the South Australia, but photographs or description of these fossils were not presented.
Description.
The typical "Vaveliksia" had a frankfurter-like appearance, with one end attached to the substrate by a disk-like holdfast. The body wall was very thin, and perforated. At the top was a hole, which may be an osculum, if they were indeed true sponges. In "V. velikanovi", found only in Precambrian strata of the Dneister, the top has a crown of wrinkles which was originally interpreted as tentacles (the first fossils were originally thought to be of a polyp-like organism), and the holdfast is relatively flat and disk-like. "V. vana", found at the White Sea shores and in Australia, is thinner in diameter, has an unwrinkled top, and the holdfast is much more convex or dome-like. Some specimens of "V. vana" also had arms.
"V. velikanovi" fossils range 3–8 cm in length and up to 3 cm in width. The attachment disks range 0.8–2 centimeters in diameter.
"V. vana" range 3.5–8.6 cm in length and up to 2 cm in width. The attachment disks range 0.7–1.5 cm in diameter.