Permichnium Guthorl, 1934


DESCRIPTION: Two parallel rows of v-shaped foot impressions that are equal in size, equidistant, and may be orientated obliquely from track axis or perpendicular to track axis so v-shaped imprints open to exterior. The trackway has a smooth, unornamented median furrow.

BEHAVIOR(S): Repichnia, interpreted as a running track of an organism with equal walking feet with two claws on each foot.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS: Continental environments located close to water such as marginal lacustrine zones and ephemeral ponds in alluvial environments. Preserved most often in low energy environments of a transitional subaqueous/subaerial environment.

POSSIBLE TRACEMAKERS: Arthropods such as blattoids

GEOLOGIC RANGE: Permian-Triassic

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Avanzini, 2011

REMARKS: Description from Hantschel (1975) and Avanzini (2011). Permichnium is similar to Bifurculapes Hitchcock, 1858. Using trace position with respect to interpreted locomotion direction, Kozur (1989) separated some species from the ichnogenus Permichnium into a new ichnogenus Hoburgichnium.