Ichnology

TRACE FOSSILS FROM THE PERMIAN TERESINA FORMATION AT CERRO CAVEIRAS (S BRAZIL)

by Renata Netto

Co-authored with João Henrique Dobler Lima (first author), published in Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia, 2012. This paper was a contribution to the First Symposium on Latin American Ichnology - SLIC 2010.

The ichnofauna of the Teresina Formation from the Cerro Caveiras (Dom Pedrito, Rio Grande do Sul State, South Brazil)... more The ichnofauna of the Teresina Formation from the Cerro Caveiras (Dom Pedrito, Rio Grande do Sul State, South Brazil) is revised in this paper. Bergaueria isp., Cochlichnus cf. anguineus, Cruziana problematica, cf. Diplocraterion
isp., Diplopodichnus biformis, Helminthopsis isp., Lockeia siliquaria, Multina arcuata isp. nov., Oldhamia isp., Palaeophycus striatus, P. tubularis, Phymatoderma burkei, Planolites beverleyensis, P. montanus, Teichichnus isp., and Thalassinoides isp. were recorded. Isopodichnus problematicus, Helminthopsis tenuis and Unarites isp., previously described in these deposits are now described as Cruziana problematica, indeterminate molluscan trail, and Multina arcuata isp. nov., respectively. The ichnofauna is composed chiefly of horizontal, simple shallow burrows, with a predominance of feeding structures. Resting, dwelling and crawling structures also occur, as well as indeterminate tiny grazing trails, but are less frequent. Ichnodiversity and intensity of bioturbation are usually low, and P. montanus is the commonest ichnotaxon. The main characteristics of the ichnofauna suggest a marine benthic fauna stressed by salinity fluctuations and resulting in an impoverished Cruziana ichnofacies. The absence of vertical burrows and the common occurrences of monospecific assemblages of Planolites indicate extreme stress events, probably due to the establishment of freshwater conditions. Further studies focused on the ichnological signatures of these deposits will provide more detailed information to improve the current paleoecologic and paleoenvironmental interpretations of the Teresina Formation deposits.

Zur Alterstellung des häufig im Geschiebe gefundenen "Eophyton-Sandsteins"

by Rene Hoffmann

Im folgenden Artikel soll dem Sammler die Möglichkeit zur Unterscheidung
von unter- und mittelkambrischen... more Im folgenden Artikel soll dem Sammler die Möglichkeit zur Unterscheidung
von unter- und mittelkambrischen Sandsteingeschieben mit den typischen als „Eophyton“
beschriebenen Schleif- und Driftmarken sowie die darin enthaltenen Spurenfossilien gegeben
werden. Eine kurze historische Zusammenfassung zu „Eophyton“ findet sich bereits in WALCOTT
(1898) und aktueller bei JENSEN (1997). Die Entstehung der Marken wird kurz erläutert und es
werden Hinweise zum Gebrauch des Begriffes „Eophyton“ gegeben, um stratigraphische
Verwirrungen zu vermeiden.

Kegelförmige organische und anorganische Strukturen in unterkambrischen Sandsteingeschieben Norddeutschlands - Cone-like organic and inorganic structures in Lower Cambrian Sandstone Geschiebe of Northern Germany

by Rene Hoffmann

trace fossils and inorganic structure, lower cambrian

Here we describe the morphology and ethology of the hitherto known conical trace fossils found in Lower Cambrian... more Here we describe the morphology and ethology of the hitherto known conical trace fossils found in Lower Cambrian glacial erratic boulders (geschiebe) from northern germany. These traces will be compared with all similar trace fossils reported in the literature. Particular attention is paid to the comparison with inorganic fossil and recent sedimentary structures, which can easily mimic conical trace fossils. The Lower Cambrian conical trace fossils from glacial erratic boulders are mainly representatives of the two Ichnogenera Monocraterion and Conichnus. Other funnel-shaped Lower Cambrian trace fossils are Cylindrichnus and Rosselia. However, from observations of the authors both trace fossils are very rare in glacial erratic boulders. Essential is the knowledge of morphologically similar inorganic structures and their formation mechanisms, to avoid a) confusion with them and b) the establishment of supposed “new” ichnogenera.
K e y w o r d s. Lower Cambrian, geschiebe (glacial erratic boulder), trace fossils, Northern Germany, Bergaueria, Conichnus, Cylindrichnus, Diplocraterion, Dolopichnus, Kulindrichnus, Laevicyclus, Monocraterion, Rosselia

Diprotodontid footprints from the Pliocene of Central Australia

by Aaron Camens

The first Pliocene marsupial fossil trackways from Australia are described. The trackways, attributed to Euowenia... more The first Pliocene marsupial fossil trackways from Australia are described. The trackways, attributed to Euowenia grata (De Vis) (Diprotodontoidea, Marsupialia), occur in the middle Pliocene Tirari Formation, Warburton River, northern South Australia. The trackways were formed as the animals made their way across a soft claypan. Pad impressions, subsequently infilled by a gypsum-cemented clay, indicate how weight was distributed within the pes.

3D reconstruction of ichnofabrics in fine-grained sediments: assessment of the morphological diversity of phycosiphoniform burrows.

by Małgorzata Bednarz

Bednarz, M. and McIlroy, D., 2011, Ichnology Newsletter, 28: 4-9.

Phycosiphon-like trace fossils are some of the most common and important ichnofabric forming trace fossils in marine... more Phycosiphon-like trace fossils are some of the most common and important ichnofabric forming trace fossils in marine facies characterized by fine-grained sediments such as mudstones and siltstones. This study aims to reconstruct the three-dimensional morphology of Phycosiphon-like trace fossils from three locations
of different geological age in order to test the validity of criteria used to recognize such fossils in vertical cross section. It also presents methodology to create digital volumetric models of trace fossils which geometry was computer-modeled using series of consecutive images obtained by serial grinding and measured in 3D software.

Clavate borings in a Miocene cetacean skeleton from Tarragona (NE Spain) and the fossil record of marine bone bioerosion

by Jordi M. (de) Gibert

Belaústegui, Z., Gibert, J.M. de, Domènech, R., Muñiz, F., Martinell, J. 2012. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 323–325, 68–74.

Clavate borings found in the tympanic bulla of a Miocene cetacean from El Camp de Tarragona Basin constitute the first... more Clavate borings found in the tympanic bulla of a Miocene cetacean from El Camp de Tarragona Basin constitute the first evidence of the ichnogenus Gastrochaenolites in bones of an autochthonous cetacean carcass. Previous records of similar trace fossils on marine bones were described from transported or reworked remains. Based on their morphology and ichnotaxonomy, the borings are assigned to the activity of pholadid bivalves, which would have colonized the skeletal carcass on the sea floor after removal of covering soft tissues. Sedimentological and paleontological data indicate a low-energy depositional setting with low sedimentation rate, which would have provided the temporal window for bivalve colonization. This new finding contributes to widen our knowledge of bioerosion in marine vertebrate skeletons.

TREINTA AÑOS DE TRABAJO DE CAMPO EN LOS YACIMIENTOS ICNOLÓGICOS DE LA RIOJA (1980-2010)

by Esperanza García Ortiz de Landaluce

La Rioja, campos de trabajo, cursos universitarios, paleoicnología, dinosaurios

Los campos de trabajo y cursos universitarios que se desarrollan en La Rioja desde hace 30 años han supuesto un... more Los campos de trabajo y cursos universitarios que se desarrollan en La Rioja desde hace 30 años han supuesto un importante impulso para muchas actividades relacionadas con las huellas de dinosaurio realizadas en la región. Se han excavado y estudiado más de 140 yacimientos, y se han rehabilitado varios de ellos. Se han construido también varios centros paleontológicos, se han adecuado yacimientos al turismo, se han colocado figuras de dinosaurios, etc. En el punto de vista patrimonial y de protección, las icnitas de La Rioja se han incluido en los BICs de La Rioja, en la lista de Geosites, y se han propuesto para los LIGs y para patrimonio de la humanidad de UNESCO.

Nuevo rastro saurópodo de la Formación Iouaridène (Kimmeridgiense, Jurásico Superior) en el Alto Atlas, Marruecos

by Esperanza García Ortiz de Landaluce

footprints, sauropod, narrow-gauge trackway, Iouaridène Formation, Jurassic, Morocco.

One of the charachteristics of the Iouaridène syncline, located in central High Atlas is the large number of dinosaur... more One of the charachteristics of the Iouaridène syncline, located in central High Atlas is the large number of dinosaur tracksites. More than 40 tracksites have been counted in the lower member of the Iouaridène Formation (Boutakiout et al., 2009b) which is Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic in age (Charrière et al., 2005).

VIRGEN DEL CAMPO, LA SENOBA AND BARRANCO DE VALDECEVILLO: AFTER THE FOOTPRINTS OF THE DINOSAURS FROM ENCISO

by Esperanza García Ortiz de Landaluce

Dinosaur footprints, Cretaceous, La Rioja, Spain

El estudio de las huellas de dinosaurio en La Rioja comenzó a principio de los años 70 (Casanovas y Santafé, 1971,... more El estudio de las huellas de dinosaurio en La Rioja comenzó a principio de los años 70 (Casanovas y Santafé, 1971, 1974), a los que han seguido otros equipos y grupos. Casi 40 años después La Rioja tiene más de 100 yacimientos estudiados con aproximadamente 10.000 huellas inventariadas. Estas icnitas junto a las de Soria y Burgos, hacen de la cuenca de Cameros un lugar de referencia para paleoicnólogos de todo el mundo.

Coral reef bioerosion in times of crises – the Late Triassic/ Early Jurassic example

by Markus Bertling

A study across the major extinction phase of scleractinians during the Late Triassic/Early Jurassic was performed.... more A study across the major extinction phase of scleractinians during the Late Triassic/Early Jurassic was performed. Samples from seven localities in Austria, Morocco and Iran were quantitatively evaluated for macroborings. Each locality represents a turbid or clear-water environment before and after the 5 million years of crisis. Norian reefs suffered almost no bioerosion in clear water but in a turbid setting, they were oderately bored with ”worms’’ dominating over bivalves and cirripeds. Late Rhaetian reefs independently of the environment were slightly bored by the same array of borers. In the Pliensbachian, ”worms’’ still dominated over bivalves and cirripeds, again independent of the facies. The pattern of coral reef macroboring hence remained essentially unchanged across the major end-Triassic extinction phase of corals. There is good evidence for joint evolution of coral borers and their substrate.
Borers did not facilitate the Late Triassic reef decline but they did respond to it.

Endolithos - First International Workshop on Bioerosion, 2nd-7th September, 1996

by Markus Bertling

(accessible only for registered users)

(no abstract existing) (no abstract existing)

Comment on the draft proposal to emend the Code with respect to trace fossils-reply

by Markus Bertling

(currently no pdf available because of online full text version)

(no abstract existing) (no abstract existing)

Quo vadis, ichnofabric? 4th International Ichnofabric Workshop, San Salvador, Bahamas, March 1997

by Markus Bertling

(no abstract existing) (no abstract existing)

Vertical displacement and taphonomic filtering of nannofossils by bioturbation in the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary section at Caravaca, SE Spain

by Mariusz Kędzierski

At the Caravaca section, SE Spain, the position of the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K–Pg) boundary is well-defined, with... more At the Caravaca section, SE Spain, the position of the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K–Pg) boundary is well-defined, with multidisciplinary datasets from a thin rusty layer at the base of the 10 cm dark boundary layer. Nannoplankton assemblages containing the Danian taxon Neochiastozygus sp. and enriched in Thoracosphaera spp. are displaced below the K–Pg boundary into the trace fossils Zoophycos, Thalassinoides and Chondrites. These trace fossils are filled with dark-coloured sediments of the dark boundary layer. The nannofossil assemblage from the 1-cm thick interval below the boundary, enriched in Thoracosphaera spp. and Braarudosphaera spp., may have been displaced by Chondrites tracemakers, the traces of which are abundant in this interval. The downward transport of the Danian nannofossils into the Maastrichtian by the tracemakers seems to be one of the common mechanisms responsible for their apparent appearance below the K–Pg boundary. The dark boundary layer contains very rare Danian specimens and abundant Maastrichtian nannofossils. The Maastrichtian taxa were most likely conveyed up on to the seafloor by tracemakers during the Danian. The redistribution of nannoplankton down and up across the rusty layer (K–Pg), challenges the usefulness of nannofossils for high-resolution stratigraphy of the K–Pg boundary. □Nannoplankton, Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary event, biogenic mixing, trace fossils.

Bio-events, foraminiferal and nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval in the Subsilesian Nappe, Rybie section, Polish Carpathians

by Mariusz Kędzierski

The Rybie section (Subsilesian Nappe, Polish Carpathians) comprises hemipelagic and pelagic sediments of the... more The Rybie section (Subsilesian Nappe, Polish Carpathians) comprises hemipelagic and pelagic sediments of the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (CTB) interval. In general, positioning of the CTB in such sediments is problematic owing to the absence or scarcity of index ammonites or inoceramids, but an integrated stratigraphy of nannofossils, foraminifera and microfacies allowed determination of the CTB within a narrow interval. The standard nannofossil UC zones have been used, and the standard planktonic foraminiferal Thalmanninella reicheli Zone combined with a new local zonation, which includes the Parathalmanninella micheli, Heterohelix and Marginotruncana zones is proposed. A few bio-events related to the CTB were identified, including the Heterohelix shift, the radiolaria domination, the roveacrinid abundance event, the planktonic foraminifera turnover, the deep-water agglutinated foraminifera extinction and the filament event. The CTB interval lies in the lower part of the nannofossil UC5c-6 Zone, and in the middle of the planktonic foraminiferal Heterohelix Zone and of the benthonic foraminiferal Bulbobaculites problematicus Zone. The boundary interval is also above the deep-water agglutinated foraminifera extinction event and below the filament event. The CTB lies between a package of black shales (an equivalent of the Bonarelli Level) and a level of ferro-manganese deposits.

Large chambered sponge borings on a Late Cretaceous abrasion platform at Cracow, Poland

by Mariusz Kędzierski

A new ichnospecies of the bioeroding sponge ichnogenus Entobia, i.e., E. cracoviensis isp. n., is distinguished by... more A new ichnospecies of the bioeroding sponge ichnogenus Entobia, i.e., E. cracoviensis isp. n., is distinguished by having a single, large, isolated chamber and radiating canals. It occurs in a rockground surface on a Turonian or Santonian abrasion platform that is cut into Oxfordian limestones as exposed at Bonarka, Cracow. The morphology of the new ichnospecies is compared with fossil and modern sponge boring morphologies. In every case, the borings lack their upper parts and are roofless. Three models are constructed for the depositional history of the rockground and its colonization by the E. cracoviensis tracemaker: (1) that the roof has been removed by physical erosion, causing, or subsequent to, the death of the sponge; (2) that the lack of the roof is primary (biological), the roof having been removed by the sponge itself; and (3) that the boring sponge was psammobiontic, initiating its boring beneath a thin sand deposit, where there was no need to maintain a roof to the boring. The third model, based on living species of Aka, fits the details of preservation best, and is considered to represent the most likely scenario.

Rodriguez de la Rosa & Guzman-Gutierrez 2011 Huellas de vertebrados del Terciario Temprano de Jalisco Mexico

by Jose Ruben Guzman-Gutierrez

Trace fossils and palaeoenvironments of the Middle Devonian Caherbla Group, Dingle Peninsula, southwest Ireland

by Simon Braddy

Diopatrichnus odlingi n.isp. (annelid tube) and associated ichnofabrics in the White Limestone (M. Jurassic) of Oxfordshire: sedimentological and palaeoecological significance

by Jordi M. (de) Gibert

Gibert, J.M. de 1996. Proceedings of the Geologists ' Association. 107, 189-198.

The shell-lined tubes (Diopatrichnus odlingi n.isp.) frequently associated with Epithyris in the highly bioturbated... more The shell-lined tubes (Diopatrichnus odlingi n.isp.) frequently associated with Epithyris in the highly bioturbated shelly micrites of the White Limestone (Bathonian) at Kirtlington (Oxfordshire) represent the reworked caps of a tube-building polychaete similar to those of the modem onuphid Diopatra. The associated facies includes two distinct ichnofabrics. Ichnofabric I represents complex tiering in a relatively quiet subtidal environment with extensive bioturbation due mainly to deep tier crustacean burrows (Thalassinoides), with Diopatrichnus as an allochthonous component. Ichnofabric 2 has a more diverse suite of trace fossils associated with partial preservation of primary cross-stratification, and a lower bioturbation grade possibly formed on a channel bar or shoal.

Trace fossil assemblages and their palaeoenvironmental significance in the Pliocene marine deposits of the Baix Ebre (Catalonia, NE Spain)

by Jordi M. (de) Gibert

Gibert, J.M. de; Martinell, J. 1996. Géologie Méditerranéenne 23, 211-255.

The Pliocene sedimentary filling of the Baix Ebre basin includes both a transgressive and a regressive sequence.... more The Pliocene sedimentary filling of the Baix Ebre basin includes both a transgressive and a regressive sequence. During the transgressive period, buildups and bioerosion surfaces were developed on the most isolated areas of the paleorelief with low or no terrigenous sedimentation. Other nearshore areas were occupied by pebbly-sandy beaches including typically littoral trace fossils (Gastrochaenolites, Entobia, Skolithos) which change laterally and vertically to shallow bay sands and clays deposited in a rather restricted environment with low bioturbation dominated by J-burrows. The blue clays which underlie those deposits correspond to the maximum of the transgression, and they are fully bioturbated. During the regression, the marine deposits were sands and clays including different facies and ichnoassociations which correspond to bay deposits (Sinusichnus and Teichichnus-Fugichnia assemblages), sand bars (Skolithos assemblage) and restricted proximal environments (Teichichnus assemblage). The continental units, lacustrine and alluvial culminate the regressive sequence.