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Prehistoric Life

How wide was Dickinsonia costata?

An adult Dickinsonia costata was about 14 cm (5.51 in) wide.

What is measured: typical adult, body width

Dickinsonia costata (14 cm) drawn to scale beside a large coin (2.4 cm) and a smartphone (14.7 cm)
Drawn to scale, from left to right: Large coin (2.4 cm), Dickinsonia costata (14 cm) and Smartphone (14.7 cm).

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How big is that, really?

  • About the height of a smartphone
  • About 1.6× the length of a credit card
  • As wide as about 6 large coins side by side
  • About 37% of the height of a bowling pin
  • About 20× the length of a grain of rice

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Facts about Dickinsonia costata

Dickinsonia had a quilted, bilaterally organized body, but scientists still debate whether it belonged to an extinct animal group.

Source: Australian Museum — Dickinsonia; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dickinsonia

Prehistoric Life

NameSizeCompared with Dickinsonia costata
Eldredgeops rana5 cm (1.97 in)0.36×
Pikaia gracilens5 cm (1.97 in)0.36×
Titanomyrma giganteum5 cm (1.97 in)0.36×
Tribrachidium heraldicum5 cm (1.97 in)0.36×
Cooksonia pertoni6.5 cm (2.56 in)0.46×
Ottoia prolifica8 cm (3.15 in)0.57×
Olenoides serratus10 cm (3.94 in)0.71×
Dickinsonia costata14 cm (5.51 in)this page
Beelzebufo ampinga40 cm (1 ft 4 in)2.9×
Hyracotherium leporinum40 cm (1 ft 4 in)2.9×

Test your sense of scale

Which is bigger: Dickinsonia costata or Olenoides serratus?

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