Parahaentzscheliana Chamberlain, 1971


DESCRIPTION: Full relief burrow system composed of numerous shafts radiating vertically and obliquely from a main central shaft. Trace may be expressed as a surface pattern up to 90mm in diameter of groups of depressions expressed in cross section as oval pits, mounds, bulbs, and spots. Overall trace form looks like bunches of flowers with burrows that are concentrically lined (shafts) or backfilled (horizontal tubes) and are lined with a dark muddy film.

BEHAVIOR(S): Fodinichnia and domichnia. Trace is interpreted to have formed from organism extending itself upward from a fixed position in sediment in search of food.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS: Deep marine environments such as flysch deposits

POSSIBLE TRACEMAKERS: Worm-like endobenthic organism; likely a deposit-feeder

GEOLOGIC RANGE: Pennsylvanian

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Emended by Gluszek (1998)

REMARKS: Description from Chamberlain (1971) and Gluszek (1998). The horizontal components of the trace are identical to Macaronichnus and may be behavioral variations of the same organism.