“Trace Fossils”, provide us with indirect evidence of life through footprints, tracks, burrows, borings, and feces that were left behind by animals or insects. The Study of “Trace Fossils” is called Ichnology and paleontologists specifically collect, study and write scientific papers identifying, interpreting, and the dissemination of trace fossils. The pictures featured are some samples of “life and behavior on an ancient mudflat during the Carboniferous Period, 300 million years ago.”
Approximately 12 years ago I found a 30-foot rock wall locally. I'd driven by it many times but didn't pay that much attention to it until my nephews and I stopped to look at the stone near the base of the wall. In our minds we were anticipating finding plants and possible marine fossils but found no signs or evidence they existed at this site...just a lot of rocks! The stone wall was all sedimentary layers, surely there was something to be found on this site? After, the first visit with the nephews I decided to stop by again to inspect those rocks at the base of the rockfall myself. I found something this time that was shaped like a Christmas tree but had no idea what it was? (picture is posted above) I posted the picture on The Fossil Forum and got many responses, most saying it was some type of arthropod (insect).
Paleontologist members got involved, most of them stating that they are 'Xiphosurans' (type of horseshoe crab). At the time I had been corresponding with two paleontologists one out of Canada saying the track were made by a limulid (a miniature horseshoe crab). The other paleontologist from the University of West Alabama and a member of APS told me that the tracks were common in the sedimentary layers known as the Parkwood Formation of the Carboniferous Period. From what I recall, The UWA paleontologist who studies trace fossils said the entire area for several miles along the Shades Crest Mountain range used to be an ancient mudflat where waters would recede during tidal changes leaving film of mud on top each other. This explains the thin layers of stone that contains those tracks. Since the first day, I would visit the site several days a week especially after a rain. There would be 'rockslides' with new stone and I would find many cool specimens from many type track makers over a long period of time! I've been able to box some of those samples to give to the paleontologist at UWA to study and possibly write a scientific paper about the Parkwood Formation trace fossils. To this day none of the track maker fossils have been identified exactly or complete remains been found with the exception of picture #6. The picture shows the thorax and abdomen impression from the bottom and nothing else? Below are fossil specimens from that site.
Pic #1- tracks called Diplichnites, Pic #2- Three Ziphosurans tracks, Pic #3- Single Ziphosuran track, Pic #4- Scattered Diplichnites tracks, Pic #5- not sure what these are called...the mud apparently was really soft when the organism traversed the mudflat, Pic #6- This track resembles an infinity symbol, Pic #7- impression of an insects thorax and abdomen, Pic #8- multiple Ziphosuran tracks, Pic #9- Bioclast burrow know as a Conostichus, Pic #10- closeup of a Diplichnites, Pic #11- Feeding trace, Pic #12- shaped like horseshoe crabs lifting off the liquid floor and setting down and back up again and setting down?
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