The Ediacaran period, which lasted from about 635 to 541 million years ago, is the last geological period of the Neoproterozoic era. It is known for the emergence of some of the earliest complex multicellular life forms, including various soft-bodied organisms. Fossils from this period, found in locations like Australia and Namibia, provide crucial insights into early life on Earth. Ediacaran organisms, such as Dickinsonia and Charniodiscus, exhibit unique body plans that differ significantly from modern animals. These creatures lived in shallow marine environments and are believed to have been primarily sessile, meaning they remained fixed in one place. The Ediacaran period set the stage for the subsequent Cambrian explosion of life.