A predatory Rusophycus burrow from the Cambrian of southern New Brunswick, eastern Canada

Pickerill, Ron K.; Blissett, Donovan J.

doi:10.4138/2031

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…In the study area, arenites also contain linguloid brachiopods and/or are mantled by rare shallow-tier trace fossils such as Palaeophycus, Planolites, Psammichnites and Rusophycus; shales are highly bioturbated and have a diverse array of traces at shale/sandstone bed interfaces ( Fig. 1; Pickerill 1982Pickerill , 1990Pickerill and Blissett 1999). Studied exposures are hypothesized to represent deposition in shallow subtidal inner-to mid-shelf environments above storm wave base (Tanoli and Pickerill 1989).…”

Section: Geological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypothesized Cambrian medusae from Saint John, New Brunswick, reinterpreted as sedimentary structures

Hagadorn

Miller

2011

atgeol

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More than a hundred radial and discoidal structures occur on bed tops of shales and very fine sandstones of the Cambrian (Series 3) King Square Formation in New Brunswick, Canada. These structures typically contain a central sediment plug, radial lineations that extend outward from the central plug, concentric rings, and a broad trough surrounding or underlying ring margins. Originally interpreted as fossils of scyphozoan medusae, these structures could represent one of only a half-dozen mass strandings documented from the fossil record. Instead, re-evaluation of their sedimentology and morphology suggests that they are likely sedimentary structures known as Astropolithon. These sand-volcano-like structures formed by subsurface blistering, cracking, and failure of a near-surface or surface bed, triggered by the upward movement of gases or other fluids from underlying beds. RÉSUMÉPlus d'une centaine de structures radiales et discoïdes apparaissent au sommet des couches de schiste et de grès très fins de la formation King Square du Cambrien (Série 3), du Nouveau-Brunswick, au Canada. Ces structures contiennent généralement un culot sédimentaire central, des linéaments radiaux qui se déploient vers l'extérieur à partir du culot central, des anneaux concentriques, et une vaste cuvette qui ceinture le bord des anneaux ou qui se trouve en dessous. On estimait initialement qu'il s'agissait de méduses scyphozoaires, mais ces structures pourraient correspondre à l'une de la demi-douzaine d'échouages massifs de l'ichnofaune dont les vestiges fossiles ont été retrouvés. La réévaluation de leur contexte de sédimentation et de leur morphologie porte plutôt à croire que ce sont vraisemblablement des structures sédimentaires connues sous le nom d'astropolithon. Ces structures apparentées à un volcan de sable ont été formées par l'apparition d'alvéoles souterraines, le fendillement et la rupture d'une couche près de la surface ou à la surface, et qu'aurait provoquée le déplacement vers la surface de gaz ou d'autres fluides provenant des couches inférieures.[ Traduit par la redaction]atlantic geology 47, 66-80 (2011) 0843-5561|08|00066-15$3.25|o

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Section: Geological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypothesized Cambrian medusae from Saint John, New Brunswick, reinterpreted as sedimentary structures

Hagadorn

Miller

2011

atgeol

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“…The dominance of Rusophycus in an ichnoassemblage, as observed in Suite B, has been interpreted as a hunting strategy, in which trilobites hide in shallow burrows to catch detritus or hunt for soft-bodied prey, as reported in other Paleozoic units (e.g., Whittington, 1980;Seilacher, 1985;Jensen, 1990;Brandt et al, 1995;Pickerill and Blissett, 1999;Rydell et al, 2001;Brandt, 2007). However, the close association of Rusophycus with Protopaleodyction in these beds and their overlapping by Palaeophycus (Figures 4A,B,G) indicate that they were relatively deep burrows.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Multiple-Rusophycus assemblage from the Parnaíba Basin (NE Brazil) reflects trilobites as tracemakers and molting behavior

et al. 2023

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Trilobites inhabited all environments of Paleozoic seas, ranging from estuaries to continental slopes, and were globally distributed. Although their functional morphology and phylogenetic relations are established by well-preserved body fossils, the behavior of trilobites has received less attention. Three well-known trace fossils are interpreted to be produced by trilobitomorphs when preserved in Paleozoic rocks, Rusophycus (a resting trace), Cruziana (a furrowing trace), and Diplichnites (a locomotion trace). Those trace fossils unveil some aspects of trilobite behavior, but they were not investigated to test paleoecologic strategies based on morphometric parameters. This study uses Rusophycus to access the paleoecologic strategies of trilobites in storm-dominated shallow marine deposits of the Pimenteira and Cabeças formations (Middle to Upper Devonian, Parnaíba Basin, Brazil). It was conducted a detailed analysis of the Rusophycus specimens in a section that represents the transition between the Pimenteira and Cabeças formations (Parnaíba Basin). The width and length of the Rusophycus were measured, and statistical analyses were performed to understand the population characteristics. Relatively small-sized Rusophycus are dominant in such deposits, suggesting the dominance of young tracemakers and inferred r-strategist populations. The here reported multiple-Rusophycus assemblage reveals paleoecologic strategies of the population, and tiers relationship (cross-cutting epistratal and shallow-tier trace fossils such as Bergaueria, Palaeophycus, and Protopaleodictyon) indicate deep Rusophycus. The main reason for those burrowing activities deep in the substrate might be protection during ecdysis. Thus, the random distribution, lack of hunting evidence, and depth of Rusophycus suggest molting activity as the trigger for their production in storm-influenced beds of the Pimenteira Formation, probably by calmoniids or homalonotids.

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“…Generally, Rusophycus is interpreted as an arthropod (more specifically trilobites) resting trace produced as a stationary digging for sheltering or resting (Osgood, 1970). In addition, there are some examples of Rusophycus associated with burrows of vermiform organisms, these Rusophycus traces can best be interpreted as predatory hunting burrows (Jensen, 1990; Pickerill & Blissett, 1999; Selly, Huntley, Shelton, & Schiffbauer, 2016). This ichnogenus is a typical ichnotaxon of the Cruziana ichnofacies, commonly found in shallow marine environments (Feng et al, 2021; Pandey, Uchman, Kumar, & Shekhawat, 2014; Singh et al, 2020).…”

Section: Synopsis Of Trace Fossilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace fossils from the Permian Lopingian Talung Formation at the northern Penglaitan section of Laibin area, South China: Ichnology, palaeoenvironment, and palaeoecology

Ding

Duan

et al. 2021

Geological Journal

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The end-Permian mass extinction was the largest biotic crisis in the Phanerozoic. Previous studies of this catastrophe have mainly concentrated on geochemistry or body fossil records. The Changhsingian Talung Formation strata exposed in the Penglaitan section, the Global Stratotype Section and Point for the GuadalupianÀLopingian boundary in Laibin, South China, yield abundant trace fossils that have not been systematically described yet. Herein, we report abundant ichnotaxa from the Talung Formation, including 12 ichnospecies in 10 ichnogenera: Didymaulichnus isp., Helicorhaphe tortilis, Nereites isp., Palaeophycus isp., Planolites beverleyensis, Planolites montanus, Protovirgularia dichotoma, Protovirgularia longespicata, Rusophycus isp., Skolithos linearis, Thalassinoides isp., and Treptichnus isp. They can be assigned to two ichnoassemblages: the NereitesÀPlanolites (beds 18-45) and ProtovirgulariaÀSkolithos (beds 46-59) ichnoassemblages. Ichnological and sedimentological features indicate that the former ichnoassemblage was probably developed in a deep-marine turbidite setting, while the latter ichnoassemblage represents an ichnofossil record from a shallow marine environment, that is, subtidal to supratidal zones. In addition, the continuous ichnological records spanning from the Wuchiapingian to Changhsingian, together with facies features show a distinct regression, and they also indicate that diverse trace makers, such as arthropods, bivalves, and worms may have inhabited the Lopingian ocean, with no sign of the long-term environmental deterioration in the studied area.

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A predatory Rusophycus burrow from the Cambrian of southern New Brunswick, eastern Canada

Cited by 11 publications

References 8 publications

Hypothesized Cambrian medusae from Saint John, New Brunswick, reinterpreted as sedimentary structures

Hypothesized Cambrian medusae from Saint John, New Brunswick, reinterpreted as sedimentary structures

Multiple-Rusophycus assemblage from the Parnaíba Basin (NE Brazil) reflects trilobites as tracemakers and molting behavior

Trace fossils from the Permian Lopingian Talung Formation at the northern Penglaitan section of Laibin area, South China: Ichnology, palaeoenvironment, and palaeoecology

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