Systematic ichnology of the Mabou and Cumberland groups (Carboniferous) of western Cape Breton Island, eastern Canada, 1: burrows, pits, trails, and coprolites

Abstract

Strata of the Mabou and Cumberland groups (Namurian-Westphalian A) outcrop extensively in western Cape Breton Island. Trace fossils were encountered at various localities, and include: Circulichnus montanus (nom. correct.), Cochlichnus anguineus, Cochlichnus isp., Conichnus isp., Cruziana problematica, Didymaulichnus cf. lyelli, Diplopodichnus biformis, Gordia marina, Helminthopsis abeli, Helminthopsis hieroglyphica, Palaeophycus striatus, cf. Palaeophycus,Phycodespedum, Planolites beverleyensis,Planolites terraenovae, cf. Planolites, Rusophycus carbonarius, cf. Rusophycus, Selenichnites isp., Taenidium barretti, cf. Taenidium, Thalassinoides suevicus, Undichnus binus (nom. correct.), Undichnus consulcus (nom. correct.), cf. Undichnus, coprolites, interface trails (types A, B, and C), plug-shaped burrows, small ovate pits (types A, B, and C), and vertical 'escape' structures. In total (including tracks and trackways not described herein), twenty-two ichnogenera have been identified that comprise a total of eighteen named ichnospecies, eight ichnospecies retained in open nomenclature, and thirteen unnamed ichnospecies. A further ten trace-fossil morphologies (comprising twenty different types) are retained in the ver nacular.On trouve de vastes affleurements de strates des groupes de Mabou et de Cumberland (Namurien -Westphalien A) dans l'ouest de Tile du Cap-Breton. On y a releve des ichnofossiles en divers endroits, notamment: le Circulichnus montanus (nom corrige), le Cochlichnus anguineus, le Cochlichnus isp., le Conichnus isp., le Cruziana problematica, le Didymaulichnus cf. lyelli, le Diplopodichnus biformis, le Gordia marina, le Helminthopsis abeli, le Helminthopsis hieroglyphica, le Palaeophycus striatus, cf. le Palaeophycus, le Phycodes pedum, le Planolites beverleyensis, le Planolites terraenovae, cf. le Planolites, le Rusophycus carbonarius, cf. le Rusophycus, le Selenichnites isp., le Taenidium barretti, cf. le Taenidium, le Thalassinoides suevicus, VUndichnus binus (nom corrige), VUndichnus consulcus (nom corrige), cf. P Undichnus, des coprolites, des pistes de reptation de jonction (types A, B et C), des trous de forme cylindrique, de petites fossettes ovees (types A, B et C) et des structures de " fuite " verticales. On a releve au total (et ce, y compris des traces et des traces non decrits aux presentes) 22 ichnogenres comprenant 18 ichnoesp&ces nominees, huit ichnoespeces retenues dans une nomenclature ouverte et 13 ichnoespeces sans nom. On retient en plus les noms vulgaires de dix autres formes d'ichnofossiles (qui comprennent 20 types differents). Morphological terminology is not covered by the I.C.Z.N. and, unfortunately, such term inology frequently has differ ent definitions attached to it, potentially causing nomenclatural confusion. For clarity, therefore, it should be noted that our use o f 'burrow', 'w all', 'lin in g', 'm eniscus', and 'branching' follow s K eighley and Pickerill (1 9 9 4 ,1 9 9 5 ). A 'm ould' is a 'negative' o f the original structure and a 'cast' is a reproduction ...

The foraging pits of the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus (Mammalia: Xenarthra: Dasypodidae), and implications for interpreting conical trace fossils

“…Conostichus, however, has very distinct wall ornamentation (Pemberton et al, 1988) so any conical trace fossil similar to the armadillo foraging pits would not be attributable to that ichnogenus. The ichnogenus Conichnus includes simple, unornamented coneshaped trace fossils, but it is also defined by a diameter less than its depth (Pemberton et al, 1988;Keighley and Pickerill, 1997). Erection of a new ichnogenus for any trace fossils similar to the armadillo foraging pits, therefore, would be justified because the combination of pit geometry and morphology do not fit any established ichnotaxon.…”

Trace fossils and sedimentary environments of the upper cretaceous in the Xixia Basin, Southwestern Henan Province, China

“…P. beverleyensis is very similar to Planolites montanus, but the former being larger in size and more tortuous (Pemberton & Frey, 1982). In this sense, Keighleyn and Pickerill (1997) analyzed the problems of differentiating between the two ichnospecies.…”

Trace fossils from the Permian Teresina Formation at Cerro Caveiras (S Brazil)

“…Although non-exclusive, the recording of P. striatus in non-marine deposits is recurrent, especially in a fluvial or lacustrine context (e.g. Keighley & Pickerill, 1997Melchor et al, 2003;Goldring et al, 2005;.…”