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Psilonichnus (Fürsich) in late Pliocene subtidal marine sands of eastern England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2016

Bernard Humphreys  and
Peter S. Balson
Bernard Humphreys
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
Peter S. Balson
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
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Abstract

Large trace fossils attributed to the ichnogenus Psilonichnus (Fürsich) have been identified in subtidal sediments of the Red Crag Formation (late Pliocene) of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, U.K. The traces are vertical or inclined, tapering cylindrical structures, occasionally branched, up to 2.3 m long. The structures are mud-rich relative to the surrounding sediment and their fills often show a spiralling grain fabric. The ichnogenus Psilonichnus has formerly been attributed to the burrowing activities of intertidal and supratidal crab species. The known fossil crab assemblage of the Red Crag contains no deep burrowing species. The traces are thus attributed to other crustaceans, possibly thalassinidean shrimps. The occurrence indicates that Psilonichnus may have a greater palaeoenvironmental range than previously realized.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , March 1988 , pp. 168 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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