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Skolithos
Classification
Phylum:
Trace Fossils and Problematica
Class:
Trace Fossils
Formal Genus Name and Reference:
Skolithos HALDEMANN, 1840, p. 3
Type Species:
*Fueoides ?linearis HALDEMANN, 1840, p. 3; M]
Images
(Click to enlarge in a new window)
Fig. 64,2. *S. linearis, L.Cam.; 2a, Swed. (Oland), X0.6; 2b, Swed., X0.5 (Westergard, 1931)
Synonyms
Seolithus, Seoleeolithus, Seolites, ?Haughtonia
Geographic Distribution
U.Precam., N.Australia; Cam.-Ord., Dev., cosmop.; U.Penn., USA(Texas); U.Carb., S.A£r.; L.Cret., USA(Colo.); L.Tur., Greenl.
Age Range
Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:
U.Precam., Cam.-Ord.
Beginning International Stage:
Fortunian
Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:
0
Beginning Date:
538.8
Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:
U.Penn, L.Cret., L.Tur.
Ending International Stage:
Albian
Fraction Up In Ending Stage:
100
Ending Date:
100.5
Description
"Ordinary pipes"; straight tubes or pipes perpendicular to bedding and parallel to each other, subcylindrical, unbranched; I to 15 mm. in diameter, constant for each tube; few em. up to 30 em. (max. 100) long; inner walls may be finely annulated; tubes commonly closely crowded (particularly the Skolithos in the Cambrian of Sweden), but also may show widely spaced gradations; frequent in arenaceous sediments; forming Cambrian "pipe rocks" of Scotland. [For a detailed discussion and treatment of ichnogenus see JAMES (l892b), RICHTER (1920, 1921), FENTON & FENTON (l934d), WESTERGARD (1931), HOWELL (1943); originally interpreted as marine plants in situ. but Scottish occurrences referred to "Sabella or other marine worm" by MCCULLOCH (1814, p. 461); interpreted as made by annelids (e.g., NICHOLSON, 1873, p. 288) or by brachiopods (PERRY, 1872, p. 139), phoronids (FENTON & FENTON, 1934d, p. 348), or even as of inorganic origin (e.g., HOcBOM, 1915). HALLAM & SWETT (1966, p. 104) rejected RICHTER'S interpretation as "reefs" built by colonial worms, proposing that Skolithos tubes were made during periods of negligible sedimentation by the same animal that produces Monocraterion tubes by upward movement due to influx of sand.] [Sabellarifex RICHTER, 1921, regarded by FENTON & FENTON (1934d, p. 344) as synonym of Skolithos; other authors (PENEAU, 1946, p. 78; SEILACHER, 1969b, p. 118) considered Tigillites ROUAULT a synonym of Skolithos; this question not yet cleared up, particularly due to cursory descriptions of Tigillites and Skolithos itself, along with missing type species and figures in the first descriptions. Therefore, in agreement with OSGOOD (1970, p. 326): "at present the genus remains in a state of confusion ... it is badly in need of a monographic study"; this concerns the "species" of Skolithos as well as its synonyms.J
References
Museum or Author Information
Classification
Phylum:
Trace Fossils and Problematica
Class:
Trace Fossils
Formal Genus Name and Reference:
Skolithos HALDEMANN, 1840, p. 3
Type Species:
*Fueoides ?linearis HALDEMANN, 1840, p. 3; M]
Images
(Click to enlarge in a new window)
Fig. 64,2. *S. linearis, L.Cam.; 2a, Swed. (Oland), X0.6; 2b, Swed., X0.5 (Westergard, 1931)
Synonyms
Seolithus, Seoleeolithus, Seolites, ?Haughtonia
Geographic Distribution
U.Precam., N.Australia; Cam.-Ord., Dev., cosmop.; U.Penn., USA(Texas); U.Carb., S.A£r.; L.Cret., USA(Colo.); L.Tur., Greenl.
Age Range
Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:
U.Precam., Cam.-Ord.
Beginning International Stage:
Fortunian
Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:
0
Beginning Date:
538.8
Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:
U.Penn, L.Cret., L.Tur.
Ending International Stage:
Albian
Fraction Up In Ending Stage:
100
Ending Date:
100.5
Description
"Ordinary pipes"; straight tubes or pipes perpendicular to bedding and parallel to each other, subcylindrical, unbranched; I to 15 mm. in diameter, constant for each tube; few em. up to 30 em. (max. 100) long; inner walls may be finely annulated; tubes commonly closely crowded (particularly the Skolithos in the Cambrian of Sweden), but also may show widely spaced gradations; frequent in arenaceous sediments; forming Cambrian "pipe rocks" of Scotland. [For a detailed discussion and treatment of ichnogenus see JAMES (l892b), RICHTER (1920, 1921), FENTON & FENTON (l934d), WESTERGARD (1931), HOWELL (1943); originally interpreted as marine plants in situ. but Scottish occurrences referred to "Sabella or other marine worm" by MCCULLOCH (1814, p. 461); interpreted as made by annelids (e.g., NICHOLSON, 1873, p. 288) or by brachiopods (PERRY, 1872, p. 139), phoronids (FENTON & FENTON, 1934d, p. 348), or even as of inorganic origin (e.g., HOcBOM, 1915). HALLAM & SWETT (1966, p. 104) rejected RICHTER'S interpretation as "reefs" built by colonial worms, proposing that Skolithos tubes were made during periods of negligible sedimentation by the same animal that produces Monocraterion tubes by upward movement due to influx of sand.] [Sabellarifex RICHTER, 1921, regarded by FENTON & FENTON (1934d, p. 344) as synonym of Skolithos; other authors (PENEAU, 1946, p. 78; SEILACHER, 1969b, p. 118) considered Tigillites ROUAULT a synonym of Skolithos; this question not yet cleared up, particularly due to cursory descriptions of Tigillites and Skolithos itself, along with missing type species and figures in the first descriptions. Therefore, in agreement with OSGOOD (1970, p. 326): "at present the genus remains in a state of confusion ... it is badly in need of a monographic study"; this concerns the "species" of Skolithos as well as its synonyms.J