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Zoophycos
Classification
Phylum:
Trace Fossils and Problematica
Class:
Trace Fossils
Formal Genus Name and Reference:
Zoophycos MASSALONGO, 1855, p. 48
Type Species:
Zonarites? caputmedusae $=$ Zoophycos caputmedusae Massalongo, 1855, p. 48, Fucoides circinnatus Brongniart, 1828, p. 83, Fucoides brianteus VILLA, 1844, p. 22
Images
(Click to enlarge in a new window)
Fig. 75,1a. Z. crassus (HALL) ["Spirophyton crassum" HALL], U.Dev., USA; schem. drawing (Sarle, 1906b). -- Fig. 75,1b,c,f. Zoophycos; 1b, schem. drawing, antler-shaped form, XO.08 (Seilacher, 1959); 1c, schem. drawing, regular spiral form, XO.05 (Seilacher, 1959); 1f, Tert. (probably Mungaroa Ls. = Kaiwhata Ls.), N.Z.; X0.5 (Webby, 1969b). -- Fig. 75,1d,h, Z. circinnatus (BRONGNIART), Czech. (Carpath. flysch); 1d, Paleoc., long. sec., imprint of prostomial lobe with gill rays, X0.3; 1h, Eoc., spiral imprint of gill organs, X0.25 (Plicka, 1968). -- Fig. 75,1e. Z. sp., Cret., Czech. (Carpath. flysch); planar imprint of an uncoiled spiral of the gill rays; X0.27 (Plicka, 1968). -- Fig. 75,1g. Z. brianteus (VILLA), Eoc., Italy; X0.4 (Massalongo, 1855). -- Fig. 75,1i. "Zoophycos," prob. up. Mio.(up. Tongaporutan beds), N.Z.(Gower R.); dextral specimen, X0.08 (Stevens, 1968) (from Plicka, M., 1970, p. 367, in: Trace Fossils edited by T.P. Crimes & J.C. Harper, Geol. Jour. Spec. Issue 3, Seel House Press, Liverpool).
Synonyms
Umbellularia, Taonurus, Spirophyton, Sagminaria, Alectorurus, ?Physophycus, Zoophycus, Cancellophycus, ?Glossophycus, ?Flabellophycus, Zoophicos, Palaeospira, Spirographis, Palaeospirographis
Geographic Distribution
cosmop.
Age Range
Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:
Ord.
Beginning International Stage:
Tremadocian
Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:
0
Beginning Date:
486.85
Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:
Tert.
Ending International Stage:
Gelasian
Fraction Up In Ending Stage:
100
Ending Date:
1.81
Description
Complex spreiten structures with numerous morphological variations, divided into 2 basic forms: 1) helicoidal, and 2) flat or planar. Shallowly conical, spiral form, consisting of 3 main parts: spirally coiled spreite (=lamina, plate), major and minor lamellae contained within the lamina, and a cylindrical tunnel (marginal and axial); axis of spiral vertical to bedding; height small; single volutions conelike, sloping outward; diameter of successive whorls generally increasing downward; occasional inverse direction of coiling; basal diameter of structure (particularly in flysch deposits) up to 60 em. or more (max., 1.45 m., Tert., N.Z.); whorls comprising lamina variable in outline: circular, arcuate, or lobate (broadly based or tonguelike); occasionally first volu tions lobate and larger and deeper ones nearly circular in outline; laminae exhibit major and minor lamellae (ridges), appear lunate in cross section, and curve radially from axis of spiral; major lamellae branch at acute angle toward axis forming minor lamellae; cylindrical tunnel with axial and marginal part forms the axis of spreite, has same thickness as spreite, may continue for a part or for whole length of lamina and then may be open to sediment at both ends. Planar forms of Zoophycos similar to closed spiral spreite, may also be ander-like; thickness 1 to 7 mm. [One of the most discussed problematic fossils; originally interpreted as imprints of marine algae, later as body fossils (sponges, corals), as of inorganic origin (produced by eddy currents); as trace fossils (by ABEL, 1935; SEILACHER, 1954; LESSERTISSEUR, 1955, and others), tentatively regarded as feeding burrows made by soft-bodied wormlike animals, produced by systematic helicoid mining and foraging through sediment which shifted lobes of burrow (SEILACHER, 1967c, p. 80); other interpretation as imprints of discarded prostomial parts of sedimentary polychaetes (Sabellidae) (PLICKA, 1962, and especially 1968, 1969) accepted by only few authors; for new interpretation as of plant origin see PLUMSTEAD (1967); " no single interpretation has yet found general acceptance" (TAYLOR, 1967, p. 11) and " much remains to be discovered" (SIMPSON, 1970, p. 505) as may be seen from many controversial discussions during recent years; for Recent "Zoophycos burrows" from great depth of the Pacific see SEILACHER, 1967b (cross section with lunate lamellae as in fossil Zoophycos, pI. 1, fig. E); complex spiral forms mostly in deep Nereites facies (SEILACHER, 1967b, p. 421), flat forms typical of Zoophycos facies, but also occasionally in neritic or even shallower marine environment (OSGOOD, 1970, p. 403)] [BRADLEY (1973, p. 118-122) has propsed that Zoophycos could have been produced by the feeding activities of a sea pen or similarly related animal. Such an animal would be positioned so that its calyx remained in a relatively stationary position near the sediment water interface and its tubular rhachis protruded into the sediment, free to move. The volution and accompanying lateral movement of the rhachis would account for the characteristic spiral structure of Zoophycos.-W. G. HAKES.] [Nomenclature very confused, the "cauda galli" (Spirophyton cauda-galli HALL, 1863) according to SIMPSON (1970, p. 506) undistinguishable from Zoophycos; BISCHOF (1968) proposed to restrict name to Z. brianteus (VILLA), for other proposals see TAYLOR (1967, p. 19); for the older history see BARSANTI (1902); (see also BISCHOF, 1968; SIMPSON, 1970; LEWIS, 1970).]
References
Museum or Author Information
Classification
Phylum:
Trace Fossils and Problematica
Class:
Trace Fossils
Formal Genus Name and Reference:
Zoophycos MASSALONGO, 1855, p. 48
Type Species:
Zonarites? caputmedusae $=$ Zoophycos caputmedusae Massalongo, 1855, p. 48, Fucoides circinnatus Brongniart, 1828, p. 83, Fucoides brianteus VILLA, 1844, p. 22
Images
(Click to enlarge in a new window)
Fig. 75,1a. Z. crassus (HALL) ["Spirophyton crassum" HALL], U.Dev., USA; schem. drawing (Sarle, 1906b). -- Fig. 75,1b,c,f. Zoophycos; 1b, schem. drawing, antler-shaped form, XO.08 (Seilacher, 1959); 1c, schem. drawing, regular spiral form, XO.05 (Seilacher, 1959); 1f, Tert. (probably Mungaroa Ls. = Kaiwhata Ls.), N.Z.; X0.5 (Webby, 1969b). -- Fig. 75,1d,h, Z. circinnatus (BRONGNIART), Czech. (Carpath. flysch); 1d, Paleoc., long. sec., imprint of prostomial lobe with gill rays, X0.3; 1h, Eoc., spiral imprint of gill organs, X0.25 (Plicka, 1968). -- Fig. 75,1e. Z. sp., Cret., Czech. (Carpath. flysch); planar imprint of an uncoiled spiral of the gill rays; X0.27 (Plicka, 1968). -- Fig. 75,1g. Z. brianteus (VILLA), Eoc., Italy; X0.4 (Massalongo, 1855). -- Fig. 75,1i. "Zoophycos," prob. up. Mio.(up. Tongaporutan beds), N.Z.(Gower R.); dextral specimen, X0.08 (Stevens, 1968) (from Plicka, M., 1970, p. 367, in: Trace Fossils edited by T.P. Crimes & J.C. Harper, Geol. Jour. Spec. Issue 3, Seel House Press, Liverpool).
Synonyms
Umbellularia, Taonurus, Spirophyton, Sagminaria, Alectorurus, ?Physophycus, Zoophycus, Cancellophycus, ?Glossophycus, ?Flabellophycus, Zoophicos, Palaeospira, Spirographis, Palaeospirographis
Geographic Distribution
cosmop.
Age Range
Beginning Stage in Treatise Usage:
Ord.
Beginning International Stage:
Tremadocian
Fraction Up In Beginning Stage:
0
Beginning Date:
486.85
Ending Stage in Treatise Usage:
Tert.
Ending International Stage:
Gelasian
Fraction Up In Ending Stage:
100
Ending Date:
1.81
Description
Complex spreiten structures with numerous morphological variations, divided into 2 basic forms: 1) helicoidal, and 2) flat or planar. Shallowly conical, spiral form, consisting of 3 main parts: spirally coiled spreite (=lamina, plate), major and minor lamellae contained within the lamina, and a cylindrical tunnel (marginal and axial); axis of spiral vertical to bedding; height small; single volutions conelike, sloping outward; diameter of successive whorls generally increasing downward; occasional inverse direction of coiling; basal diameter of structure (particularly in flysch deposits) up to 60 em. or more (max., 1.45 m., Tert., N.Z.); whorls comprising lamina variable in outline: circular, arcuate, or lobate (broadly based or tonguelike); occasionally first volu tions lobate and larger and deeper ones nearly circular in outline; laminae exhibit major and minor lamellae (ridges), appear lunate in cross section, and curve radially from axis of spiral; major lamellae branch at acute angle toward axis forming minor lamellae; cylindrical tunnel with axial and marginal part forms the axis of spreite, has same thickness as spreite, may continue for a part or for whole length of lamina and then may be open to sediment at both ends. Planar forms of Zoophycos similar to closed spiral spreite, may also be ander-like; thickness 1 to 7 mm. [One of the most discussed problematic fossils; originally interpreted as imprints of marine algae, later as body fossils (sponges, corals), as of inorganic origin (produced by eddy currents); as trace fossils (by ABEL, 1935; SEILACHER, 1954; LESSERTISSEUR, 1955, and others), tentatively regarded as feeding burrows made by soft-bodied wormlike animals, produced by systematic helicoid mining and foraging through sediment which shifted lobes of burrow (SEILACHER, 1967c, p. 80); other interpretation as imprints of discarded prostomial parts of sedimentary polychaetes (Sabellidae) (PLICKA, 1962, and especially 1968, 1969) accepted by only few authors; for new interpretation as of plant origin see PLUMSTEAD (1967); " no single interpretation has yet found general acceptance" (TAYLOR, 1967, p. 11) and " much remains to be discovered" (SIMPSON, 1970, p. 505) as may be seen from many controversial discussions during recent years; for Recent "Zoophycos burrows" from great depth of the Pacific see SEILACHER, 1967b (cross section with lunate lamellae as in fossil Zoophycos, pI. 1, fig. E); complex spiral forms mostly in deep Nereites facies (SEILACHER, 1967b, p. 421), flat forms typical of Zoophycos facies, but also occasionally in neritic or even shallower marine environment (OSGOOD, 1970, p. 403)] [BRADLEY (1973, p. 118-122) has propsed that Zoophycos could have been produced by the feeding activities of a sea pen or similarly related animal. Such an animal would be positioned so that its calyx remained in a relatively stationary position near the sediment water interface and its tubular rhachis protruded into the sediment, free to move. The volution and accompanying lateral movement of the rhachis would account for the characteristic spiral structure of Zoophycos.-W. G. HAKES.] [Nomenclature very confused, the "cauda galli" (Spirophyton cauda-galli HALL, 1863) according to SIMPSON (1970, p. 506) undistinguishable from Zoophycos; BISCHOF (1968) proposed to restrict name to Z. brianteus (VILLA), for other proposals see TAYLOR (1967, p. 19); for the older history see BARSANTI (1902); (see also BISCHOF, 1968; SIMPSON, 1970; LEWIS, 1970).]