Feoichnus Bellosi et al., 2001


DESCRIPTION: Dish-, cup-, or bowl-shaped, concave, hemispherical structure. The depth of the concave depression is variable. External surface is relatively smooth when well-preserved; rough to textured when weathered. The fill, when present, is passive.

BEHAVIOR(S): Calichnia, reproduction.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS: A wide variety of continental terrestrial environments, found in well-drained soils in the vadose (unsaturated) zone.

POSSIBLE TRACEMAKERS: Dung beetle adults; constructed for eggs and later modifed by the larvae

GEOLOGIC RANGE: Jurassic-recent

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Emended by Bellosi, 2004. Hasiotis, 2006

REMARKS: 3D image of Feoichnus can be seen here. Often found in Coprinaesphera samples. Interpreted by Krause et al., 2008 as feeding traces by cicadas, however, research by Smith and Hasiotis (2008) on cicadas show packages of backfilled meniscae burrows and vertical exit burrows, but no cup structures. References on dung beetle nest structures similar traces to Feoichnus have been created by dung beetle larvae feeding on dung sausages.


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