In Search of the Arthrophycus Parallelus Tracemaker

Brandt, Danita S.; Csonka, Jayme D.; Holycross, Megan; McCoy, Victoria E.; Seitz, Megan E.

doi:10.2110/palo.2011.p11-101r

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Although the taxonomy of the Arthrophycus tracemaker(s) is somewhat enigmatic (Brandt et al . ), it is well accepted that these traces represent feeding structures (e.g. Häntzschel ; Rindsberg & Martin ; Seilacher ; Miller et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arthrophycusas a mimic of crinoid column impressions in the lower Silurian of central Kentucky, USA

Thomka

Sullivan²,

Brett

2018

LET

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2018: Arthrophycus as a mimic of crinoid column impressions in the lower Silurian of central Kentucky, USA. Lethaia, Vol. 51, pp. 96-101.Unusual specimens of an ichnofossil, herein ascribed to Arthrophycus, are described from siltstone tempestites in the lower Silurian (Llandovery, Telychian) Estill Shale near Irvine, Estill County, central Kentucky, USA. The specimens display closely spaced, uncurved transverse annulations, but lack the medial ridge, rectangular crosssectional shape and dense branching typical of common Silurian Arthrophycus ichnospecies. This combination of features, coupled with the straightness of burrows and alignment parallel to inorganic tool marks, closely approximates the appearance of moulds of partially articulated crinoid columns (= pluricolumnals) that were impressed into firm mud and cast by storm-deposited sediment. That these structures do not represent the external moulds of body fossils is suggested by minor width variations along the long axis of specimens, possible bioglyphs and the total absence of skeletal material, including isolated crinoid columnals, in this and other tempestites from this interval. More convincingly, the presence of very sparse branching indicates a trace fossil origin for these structures. These fossils are best interpreted as the products of preferential mining of inorganically generated tool marks by deposit feeders, owing to exposure of more organic-rich muds by erosional scouring. Thus, this occurrence represents a rare instance in which trace fossils display a strong alignment parallel to inorganic sedimentary structures. □ Estill Shale, ichnology, Llandovery, Telychian, tool marks. James R. Thomka ✉ [jthomka@uakron.edu],

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arthrophycusas a mimic of crinoid column impressions in the lower Silurian of central Kentucky, USA

Thomka

Sullivan²,

Brett

2018

LET

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“…Some features of S. seilacheri , such as the bilobate floor, transverse segmentation and weakly developed spreiten, are in common with Arthrophycus , a characteristic ichnogenus in the Lower Palaeozoic that was likely produced by arthropods (Rindsberg & Martin ; see discussion in Brandt et al . ). Based on these analogues, arthropods are the likely producers of S .…”

Section: Producer and Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…seilacheri from Anticosti Island is very similar to the ornamentation typical of Rhizocorallium jenense (see Knaust 2013) and Spongeliomorpha iberica (see Gibert & Ekdale 2010), both which may be produced by crustaceans. Some features of S. seilacheri, such as the bilobate floor, transverse segmentation and weakly developed spreiten, are in common with Arthrophycus, a characteristic ichnogenus in the Lower Palaeozoic that was likely produced by arthropods (Rindsberg & Martin 2003; see discussion in Brandt et al 2012). Based on these analogues, arthropods are the likely producers of S. cf.…”

Section: Producer and Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

The trace fossilSinusichnusfrom the Upper Ordovician of Anticosti Island, eastern Canada

Knaust

Desrochers

2020

LET

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Branched, sinusoidal burrows assigned to Sinusichnus cf. seilacheri Knaust et al. 2016; occur in Upper Ordovician (Hirnantian) carbonates on Anticosti Island. These are abundant and monospecific at the base of the Oncolite Bed of the uppermost Ellis Bay Formation, marking a regional discontinuity surface during the multiphase Ordovician mass‐extinction event. In contrast to Mesozoic and Cenozoic records of Sinusichnus, commonly attributed to the activity of decapod and isopod crustaceans, the burrow systems from Anticosti Island were probably produced by other arthropods of unknown affinity. A combined dwelling, locomotion and feeding behaviour of their trace maker is assumed. This is the oldest record of the ichnogenus Sinusichnus, previously only known since the Triassic, and its first evidence from North America.

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“…Seitz (2010) noted that specimens illustrated and described by Fernandes et al (2000) correspond to A. alleghaniensis, which is supported by the current study. Arthrophycus reflects detritusfeeding activity of worm-like organisms or arthropods (Seilacher, 2000;Rindsberg and Martin, 2003;Brandt et al, 2012). McCoy et al (2012) described a fossil arthropod, Pleuralata spinosa, associated with A. alleghaniensis, suggesting that the tracemakers of some ichnospecies of Arthrophycus could belong to a group of protostome animals known as Ecdysozoa.…”

Section: Arthrophycus Alleghaniensis Harlan 1831 (Fig 2b-d)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronostratigraphy and environment of Furnas Formation by trace fossil analysis: Calibrating the lower Paleozoic Gondwana realm in the Paraná Basin (Brazil)

Sedorko

Netto

Savrda

et al. 2017

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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Ichnology is an important tool for facies and sequence stratigraphic analysis, typically yielding greater resolution than that provided by body fossils. Less commonly, ichnofossils also can be applied to ichnostratigraphy, a variant of biostratigraphy that aids in determining stratigraphic age of sedimentary sequences. Previous publications on the Furnas Formation (Paraná Group, early Paleozoic of the Paraná Basin), have yielded different interpretations of age, depositional environment, and sequence stratigraphic framework. Deposition in fluvial environments has been proposed in many papers, although a tide-influenced marine context has been inferred since the presence of Cruziana and Rusophycus was reported during the 1990s. Sequence stratigraphic interpretations also differ, mainly regarding the presence or absence of a sequence boundary between the middle and upper units of the Furnas Formation. The absence of body fossils in all but the topmost part of the upper unit, which contains Lochkovian (Lower Devonian) palynomorphs and primitive plants, has precluded age determination for the Furnas Formation in general. Here, we demonstrate the utility of both ichnofacies and ichnostratigraphic analysis to elucidate such questions. The studied sections are located in the cities of Tibagi, Palmeira and Ponta Grossa (Guartelá, Sítio Canei and São Jorge sections, respectively). Seventeen ichnotaxa are recognized, doubling the number of previously known ichnotaxa: Cruziana acacensis elongata and Rusophycus acacensis n. ichnosp. (in the lower and middle units); Arthrophycus alleghaniensis, A. brongniartii, Rhizocorallium commune, Didymaulyponomos rowei and Heimdallia chatwini (middle unit only); Arenicolites, Cylindrichnus and Diplocraterion (lower and upper units); Lockeia siliquaria and Psammichnites implexus (middle and upper units); Rosselia socialis (upper unit); and Palaeophycus tubularis, Didymaulichnus lyelli, Skolithos, and Thalassinoides (all units). Assemblages of these ichnofossils are assigned to Skolithos and proximal Cruziana ichnofacies. Ichnologic data, combined with associated physical sedimentary facies associations, indicate predominantly tide-influenced marine depositional environments. The presence of ichnotaxa of stratigraphic value (Arthrophycus alleghaniensis, A. brongniartii and Cruziana acacensis elongata) in lower and middle units indicates an Early Silurian age. This, in turn, indicates that a significant unconformity exists between the middle and upper units of Furnas Formation. Although the precise magnitude of this stratigraphic gap is difficult to establish, this break likely is linked to the Late Silurian global regression.

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In Search of the Arthrophycus Parallelus Tracemaker

Cited by 4 publications

References 38 publications

Arthrophycusas a mimic of crinoid column impressions in the lower Silurian of central Kentucky, USA

Arthrophycusas a mimic of crinoid column impressions in the lower Silurian of central Kentucky, USA

The trace fossilSinusichnusfrom the Upper Ordovician of Anticosti Island, eastern Canada

Chronostratigraphy and environment of Furnas Formation by trace fossil analysis: Calibrating the lower Paleozoic Gondwana realm in the Paraná Basin (Brazil)

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