Burrows Dug by Large Vertebrates into Rain‐Moistened Middle Jurassic Sand Dunes

Loope, David B.

doi:10.1086/507618

Cited by 39 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The Carmel Formation is conformably overlain by the eolian Entrada Sandstone, which is thought to be late Callovian in age (Sprinkel et al, 2011b;Doelling et al, 2013). No fossils have been reported from the Entrada in BENM, but the surrounding area to the west and north includes invertebrate burrows (Ekdale and Picard, 1985), vertebrate burrows (Loope, 2006b(Loope, , 2008, and theropod and sauropod dinosaur footprints (Foster et al, 2000). Along the eastern margin of GSENM the San Rafael Group includes the Moab Tongue; this used to be considered part of the Entrada Formation, but is now considered part of the Curtis Formation (Doelling, 2002(Doelling, , 2004O'Sullivan 2010a).…”

Section: Geology and Paleontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleontology of the Bears Ears National Monument: history of exploration and designation of the monument

Uglesich

Gay²,

Stegner

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Section: Geology and Paleontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleontology of the Bears Ears National Monument: history of exploration and designation of the monument

Uglesich

Gay²,

Stegner

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…Despite the current expansion of continental ichnology, few ichnological studies have examined the traces produced by desert-dwelling faunas (e.g., Young and Morain, 2003;Loope, 2006;Hembree and Hasiotis, 2007;Loope, 2008;Hembree et al, 2012). Although active sand dunes support the lowest faunal biomass of any terrestrial ecosystem, most desert-dwelling organisms such as skinks, snakes, spiders, and scorpions have fossorial habits in order to cope with the unstable substrates and the high surface temperatures present in modern dune fields (Robinson and Seely, 1980;Loope, 2006Loope, , 2008Maladen et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although active sand dunes support the lowest faunal biomass of any terrestrial ecosystem, most desert-dwelling organisms such as skinks, snakes, spiders, and scorpions have fossorial habits in order to cope with the unstable substrates and the high surface temperatures present in modern dune fields (Robinson and Seely, 1980;Loope, 2006Loope, , 2008Maladen et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dry dune sand is not a cohesive media; as a result open burrows cannot typically be maintained in modern dune fields (Loope, 2006). Most animals that burrow in these sediments, therefore, do so by intrusion without producing open structures and are referred to as sand swimmers (Hembree and Hasiotis, 2007;Maladen et al, 2009;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most animals that burrow in these sediments, therefore, do so by intrusion without producing open structures and are referred to as sand swimmers (Hembree and Hasiotis, 2007;Maladen et al, 2009;. Sand swimming has been adapted by many small, desert-dwelling vertebrates as an efficient means of moving beneath the sand surface (Loope, 2006). The biogenic structures produced by sand-swimming organisms are dependent on the consistency and the moisture content of the sediment as well as the morphology of the tracemaker (Bromley, 1996;Hasiotis, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Taphonomic patterns of a dinosaur accumulation in a lacustrine delta system in the Jurassic Morrison Formation, San Rafael Swell, Utah, USA

Bertog

Jeffery

Coode

et al. 2014

Palaeontologia Electronica

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Neoichnological experiments involving a species of sand-swimming skink, Chalcides ocellatus, demonstrate the diversity of biogenic structures produced by desertdwelling lizards. The skinks were placed into terrariums with ten, 1-cm-thick layers of fine-, medium-, or coarse-grained sand for periods of 7 to 14 days. Sediment moisture content was held constant at either 0% or 20%. The sand skinks exhibited locomotion, escape, and resting behaviors. They burrowed to a maximum depth of 4.2 cm with most activity restricted to the upper 2 cm of the sediment. The biogenic structures produced included surface mounds and depressions; layer truncations; surficial and subsurficial sinuous, bilobate trails; isolated-to-connected, U-to V-shaped divots; flame structures; and open burrows. The size and diversity of biogenic structures produced by C. ocellatus changed with variations in sediment grain size and moisture content. Biogenic structures tended to be better defined in fine-grained sand. The width of the isolated U-to V-shaped divots was greater in the medium-and coarse-grained sand. Connected U-to V-shaped divots only occurred in the dry, fine-and medium-grained sand whereas open burrows were only produced in moist sand. While engaged in sand swimming the skinks altered grain sorting, loosened the sediment fabric, increased porosity and permeability, and added organic matter in the form of food remnants, fecal material, and shed skin. Data collected in this study can be used to better interpret terrestrial trace fossil assemblages in arid, eolian paleoenvironments to better assess the paleoecology of these ancient settings.

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Burrows provided shelter for tetrapods in a Permo‐Triassic desert

Francischini

Dentzien‐Dias

Battista

et al. 2023

Papers in Palaeontology

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We describe for the first time the presence of straight, curved and quasi‐helical burrows preserved in plan, oblique and transversal views in the aeolian strata of the Permo‐Triassic Buena Vista Formation (Paraná Basin), Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. The morphology of the burrows is similar to that of others found in Guadalupian to Early Triassic‐aged deposits in several parts of the world. Of these, middle Permian dicynodont‐bearing helical burrows (Daimonelix) and Early–Middle Triassic kidney‐shaped burrows (Reniformichnus), both from the Karoo Basin of South Africa, show a remarkable similarity to the Brazilian burrows, prompting a discussion of the probable producers. Dicynodonts, cynodonts, therocephalian and/or procolophonians are among the probable producers of such burrows, based on size compatibility between the burrows and estimates of body size for the fossil taxa, along with the presence of skeletal adaptations in Permo‐Triassic tetrapods for digging (bone micro‐ and macrostructure). Last, we discuss some behavioural aspects of the producer of the burrows, mainly due to the presence of passive filling and bilobate bottoms in the tunnels, which indicates that they remained open as long as they were occupied. The burrows were excavated in a dry aeolian system that occurred in the Guadalupian–Induan interval of Brazil, representing the oldest unambiguous record of tetrapod dwelling structures in such an environment, and providing new and unprecedented information regarding the colonization of deserts by tetrapods during the end‐Permian biotic crisis.

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Burrows Dug by Large Vertebrates into Rain‐Moistened Middle Jurassic Sand Dunes

Cited by 39 publications

References 20 publications

Paleontology of the Bears Ears National Monument: history of exploration and designation of the monument

Paleontology of the Bears Ears National Monument: history of exploration and designation of the monument

Taphonomic patterns of a dinosaur accumulation in a lacustrine delta system in the Jurassic Morrison Formation, San Rafael Swell, Utah, USA

Burrows provided shelter for tetrapods in a Permo‐Triassic desert

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