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Rusophycus
Classification
Phylum:
Trace Fossils and Problematica
Class:
Trace Fossils
Formal Genus Name and Reference:
Rusophycus HALL, 1852, p. 23
Type Species:
*Fucoides biloba VANUXEM, 1842, p. 79, "OD"
Images
(Click to enlarge in a new window)
Fig. 63A,1a. *R. bilobatus (Vanuxem), L. Cam., Pak., X0.5 (Seilacher, 1955). -- Fig. 63A,1b,c. R. didymus (Salter), L.Cam., Pak., 1b, X0.5, 1c, X1 (Seilacher, 1955). -- Fig. 63A,1d-f. R. pudicum HALL, 1852, U.Ord.(Corryville beds), Ohio (Cincinnati area); 1d, convex hyporelief, X1; 1e, the originator of the trace, Flexicalymene meeki, in situ, X0.9 (Osgood, 1970); 1f, Mt. Hope beds, convex hyporelief associated with 6 specimens of Lockeia siliquaria, X0.9 (Osgood, 1970). -- Fig. 63A,1g. R. carleyi (J.F. JAMES), loc. unknown; convex hyporelief, XO.6 (Osgood, 1970)
Synonyms
Rhyssophycus, Rusichnites, Rysophycus, Rhysophycus, Rhizophycus
Geographic Distribution
cosmop.
Age Range
Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:
U.Precam. (but ?trilobites - see Desc.)
Beginning International Stage:
Cambrian Stage 3
Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:
0
Beginning Date:
521
Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:
Dev.
Ending International Stage:
Famennian
Fraction Up In Ending Stage:
100
Ending Date:
359.3
Description
Short bilobate bucklelike forms, resembling shape of coffee beans, lobes transversely wrinkled by anterolaterally directed coarse of fine striae; with deep median furrow, outline mostly elliptical; generally width equal to one-half to two-thirds length, bilobate pits deeply excavated or only shallowly dug; quite variable in size and shape (size of Cincinnatian specimens from 1-25 cm.); morphology variable and dependent on mechanics of burrow excavation, and therefore difficult to render an unobjectionable "diagnosis." ["The most famous of all the 'fucoids'" (OSGOOD, 1970, p. 301); originally interpreted as of plant origin; undoubtedly resting excavations made by trilobites digging in sediment to rest there temporarily, interpretation given by DAWSON (1864, p. 365, 366: " for shelter or repose" or "places of incubation" ); other less probable interpretations: feeding structures or egg depositories; well-preserved specimens may show imprints of segments, pygidia, pleural spines, and other parts of the trilobite; in several cases (U.Ord., USA, Ohio) the producer of the burrow has been found preserved in situ (see Rusophycus pudicum HALL with Flexicalymene meeki (OSGOOD, 1970, pI. 57, fig. 6ยป. CRIMES (1970c, p. 114) has shown that several "forms" of Rusophycus have restricted time range (U.Cam. or L.Ord.) and thus are usable as guide fossils. Many "species" were established only on small differences in shape; for discussion of nomenclatural status of Rusophycus see OSGOOD (1970, p. 303); with regard to intermediate specimens between Rusophycus and Cruziana, Rusophycus was often regarded as synonym of Cruziana, but LESSERTISSEUR (1955, p. 45), SEILACHER (1955, p. 366), and OSGOOD (1970, p. 303) recommended Rusophycus for the short bilobate resting trails of trilobite origin, and this is approved by the present author. However, SEILACHER (1970, p. 455) recently proposed combining all presumable "resting tracks","resting nests", and resting burrows" of trilobites in the one ichnogenus Cruziana; for detailed discussions see SEILACHER (1955, p. 358-364) and OSGOOD (1970, p. 301-305).]
References
Museum or Author Information
Classification
Phylum:
Trace Fossils and Problematica
Class:
Trace Fossils
Formal Genus Name and Reference:
Rusophycus HALL, 1852, p. 23
Type Species:
*Fucoides biloba VANUXEM, 1842, p. 79, "OD"
Images
(Click to enlarge in a new window)
Fig. 63A,1a. *R. bilobatus (Vanuxem), L. Cam., Pak., X0.5 (Seilacher, 1955). -- Fig. 63A,1b,c. R. didymus (Salter), L.Cam., Pak., 1b, X0.5, 1c, X1 (Seilacher, 1955). -- Fig. 63A,1d-f. R. pudicum HALL, 1852, U.Ord.(Corryville beds), Ohio (Cincinnati area); 1d, convex hyporelief, X1; 1e, the originator of the trace, Flexicalymene meeki, in situ, X0.9 (Osgood, 1970); 1f, Mt. Hope beds, convex hyporelief associated with 6 specimens of Lockeia siliquaria, X0.9 (Osgood, 1970). -- Fig. 63A,1g. R. carleyi (J.F. JAMES), loc. unknown; convex hyporelief, XO.6 (Osgood, 1970)
Synonyms
Rhyssophycus, Rusichnites, Rysophycus, Rhysophycus, Rhizophycus
Geographic Distribution
cosmop.
Age Range
Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:
U.Precam. (but ?trilobites - see Desc.)
Beginning International Stage:
Cambrian Stage 3
Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:
0
Beginning Date:
521
Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:
Dev.
Ending International Stage:
Famennian
Fraction Up In Ending Stage:
100
Ending Date:
359.3
Description
Short bilobate bucklelike forms, resembling shape of coffee beans, lobes transversely wrinkled by anterolaterally directed coarse of fine striae; with deep median furrow, outline mostly elliptical; generally width equal to one-half to two-thirds length, bilobate pits deeply excavated or only shallowly dug; quite variable in size and shape (size of Cincinnatian specimens from 1-25 cm.); morphology variable and dependent on mechanics of burrow excavation, and therefore difficult to render an unobjectionable "diagnosis." ["The most famous of all the 'fucoids'" (OSGOOD, 1970, p. 301); originally interpreted as of plant origin; undoubtedly resting excavations made by trilobites digging in sediment to rest there temporarily, interpretation given by DAWSON (1864, p. 365, 366: " for shelter or repose" or "places of incubation" ); other less probable interpretations: feeding structures or egg depositories; well-preserved specimens may show imprints of segments, pygidia, pleural spines, and other parts of the trilobite; in several cases (U.Ord., USA, Ohio) the producer of the burrow has been found preserved in situ (see Rusophycus pudicum HALL with Flexicalymene meeki (OSGOOD, 1970, pI. 57, fig. 6ยป. CRIMES (1970c, p. 114) has shown that several "forms" of Rusophycus have restricted time range (U.Cam. or L.Ord.) and thus are usable as guide fossils. Many "species" were established only on small differences in shape; for discussion of nomenclatural status of Rusophycus see OSGOOD (1970, p. 303); with regard to intermediate specimens between Rusophycus and Cruziana, Rusophycus was often regarded as synonym of Cruziana, but LESSERTISSEUR (1955, p. 45), SEILACHER (1955, p. 366), and OSGOOD (1970, p. 303) recommended Rusophycus for the short bilobate resting trails of trilobite origin, and this is approved by the present author. However, SEILACHER (1970, p. 455) recently proposed combining all presumable "resting tracks","resting nests", and resting burrows" of trilobites in the one ichnogenus Cruziana; for detailed discussions see SEILACHER (1955, p. 358-364) and OSGOOD (1970, p. 301-305).]