[1] The two purported species were assigned their own genus, Dendrogramma,[2] and family, Dendrogrammatidae;[6] and the researchers even considered putting them in their own phylum.

As they put it, however, "we refrain from erecting such a high-level taxon for the time being, because new material is needed to resolve many pertinent outstanding questions.

"[4] The lead scientist of the identification effort, Jørgen Olesen of the University of Copenhagen, suggested that they represent "an early branch on the tree of life, with similarities to the 600 million-year-old extinct Ediacara fauna.

"[7] At least three genera of Ediacarans—Albumares, Anfesta, and Rugoconites—share similarities with Dendrogramma; all three appear to have possessed a disc with an internal network of forking channels.

[8][9] In late 2015, an expedition aboard the RV Investigator rediscovered the organism and collected 85 specimens in a manner that allowed genetic analysis, putting an end to the prior speculation.

[13] The specimens consist of a flattened, somewhat circular disc and a stalk with what was originally interpreted as mouth on the end, surrounded by lobes.

[14] More specifically, Dendrogramma appears closely related to members of the families Agalmatidae (Agalma), Abylidae (Abylopsis), and Prayidae (Craseoa).