Trichophycus Miller and Dyer 1878

DESCRIPTION: Subhorizontal burrow or burrow system composed of one or more broad, originally open, U-shaped burrows, characteristically having a nodose gallery, and in exceptionally well preserved cases, with biradial striation on the walls of nodes. These features distinguish Trichophycus from Treptichnus.

BEHAVIOR(S): Fodinichia, domichnia

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS: Marine

POSSIBLE TRACEMAKERS: Arthropods, annelids, possibly trilobites

GEOLOGIC RANGE: (Precambrian-cambrian)-recent

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Peng et al., 2004, ; Landing et al., 2008

REMARKS: Palaeophycus” virgatus Hall, 1847, is considered an older synonym. The Trichophycus pedum Ichnozone, an assemblage-zone, is taken to indicate the presence of the first well-developed, metazoan animals, and thereby indicative of the boundary between Precambrian and Phanerozoic strata. The position of the GSSP coincides with the FAD of Trichophycus pedum and the base of the T. pedum Ichnozone as known at the time of ratification (Landing, 1994). This may be in doubt as Treptichnus pedum may be the actual trace that is used. The T. pedum Ichnozone is an assemblage-zone based on trace fossils. It reflects the appearance of complex sediment-disturbing behavior by multiple metazoans (Ed Landing, et al, Global standard names for the Lowermost Cambrian Series and Stage, Episodes, Vol. 30, no. 4.).

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