Charnia. (IMAGE) University of Oxford Caption Reconstruction of Charnia, a candidate for the first animal fossil from the Ediacaran Period as old as 574 million years ago. Credit: Oxford University Museum of Natural History / Mighty Fossils Credit Credit: Oxford University Museum of Natural History / Mighty Fossils Usage Restrictions The image can only be used if credited. License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.