Helminthopsis

Helminthopsis trace fossils from the Logan Formation (Lower Carboniferous) of Wooster, Ohio.

Helminthopsis trace fossils in a core from the Belridge Diatomite (Upper Miocene) of Lost Hills Oil Field, California.

Helminthopsis is the ichnogenus of a type of trace fossil that is found preserved on the bedding planes of fine-grained sedimentary rocks. It is characterized by short, curvilinear, non-branching, parallel-sided, unlined traces on bedding surfaces. It is thought to represent the submarine feeding trails of an invertebrate organism that worked the surface of muddy substrates in search of food.^[1][2] Because Helminthopsis traces never cross over themselves, the ichnogenus is distinguished from similar traces assigned to the Gordia ichnogenus.^[3] The similar sounding, but now obsolete, ichnogenus Helminthoida refers to a somewhat similar trace characterized by regular, back-and-forth meanders, whereas Helminthopsis traces are irregular.^[4]

See also

• Trace fossil
• Ichnology

References

1. Fillion, D.; Pickerall, R.K. (1990). "Ichnology of the Upper Cambrian? to Lower Ordovician Bell Island and Waban groups of eastern Newfoundland, Canada". Palaeontographica Canadian. 7: 1–41.
2. Buatois, L.A., Mángano, M.G., Maples, C.G. and Lanier, W.P. (1998). "Ichnology of an Upper Carboniferous fluvio-estuarine paleovalley: The Tonganoxie sandstone, Buildes Quarry, eastern Kansas, USA". Journal of Paleontology. 72: 152–180.
3. Wang, Y.; Lin, J. P.; Zhao, Y. L.; Orr, P. J. (2009). "Palaeoecology of the trace fossil Gordia and its interaction with nonmineralizing taxa from the early Middle Cambrian Kaili Biota, Guizhou Province, South China". Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology. 277: 141–148. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.017.
4. Carmona, N.B., Buatois, L.A., Mángano, M.A. and Bromley, R.G. (2008). "Ichnology of the Lower Miocene Chenque Formation, Patagonia, Argentina: animal - substrate interactions and the Modern Evolutionary Fauna". Ameghinian. 45 (1).