Palaeontology: Undressing and redressing Ediacaran embryos

Arising from: J. V. Bailey, S. B. Joye, K. M. Kalanetra, B. E. Flood & F. A. Corsetti 445, 198–201 (2007)10.1038/nature05457; Bailey et al. replyBailey et al. propose that the Ediacaran microfossils Megasphaera and Parapandorina, previously interpreted as animal resting eggs and blastula embryos, represent Thiomargarita-like sulphide-oxidizing bacteria, claiming that this interpretation better explains their abundance and taphonomy. Here we highlight important observations that significantly weaken the authors' conclusions.