Biology:Lithographus

From HandWiki
Short description: Ichnogenus of trace fossil

Lithographus
Temporal range: Permian–Cretaceous
Trace fossil classification|Trace fossil classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Ichnogenus: Lithographus
Hitchcock 1858
Ichnospecies
  • L. hieroglypichus Hitchcock 1858[1]

Lithographus (‘rock writing’[2]) is a Carboniferous[3] to Cretaceous[1] trace fossil that has been found in North America, South America, Europe, and east Asia.[1]

The ichnogenus is characterized by alternating groups of three tracks arranged in an arrow shape. These are interpreted as tracks of cockroaches, beetles, or similar insects.[2][1] The tracks are likely produced on relatively dry surfaces where the insect's legs do not drag; on wetter sediments, a more continuous trackway is created that is sometimes assigned to Grammepus.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Minter, Nicholas J.; Lockley, Martin G.; Huh, Min; Hwang, Koo-Geun; Kim, Jeong Yul (January 2012). "Lithographus , an Abundant Arthropod Trackway from the Cretaceous Haenam Tracksite of Korea". Ichnos 19 (1-2): 115–120. doi:10.1080/10420940.2011.625756. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lucas, Spencer G. (2011). Traces of a Permian seacoast : Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. Albuquerque, N.M.: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. p. 22. ISBN 9780615471709. 
  3. Keighley, D.; Pickerill, R. (1998). "Systematic ichnology of the Mabou and Cumberland groups (Carboniferous) of western Cape Breton Island, eastern Canada, 2: surface markings". Atlantic Geology 34 (2): 83–112. https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/ageo/1998-v34-n2-ageo_34_2/ageo34_2art01/. Retrieved 14 April 2022. 
  4. Getty, Patrick; Ward, Matthew; Simon, Jack (2021). "Grammepus Hitchcock, 1858: A sedimentary variant of the fossil insect trackway Lithographus". Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae. doi:10.14241/asgp.2021.09. 

Wikidata ☰ Q111781394 entry