Lithographus

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Lithographus
Temporal range: Permian–Cretaceous
Trace fossil classification Edit this classification
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[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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. 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.