A predatory Rusophycus burrow from the Cambrian of southern New Brunswick, eastern Canada

Authors

  • Ron K. Pickerill Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, P. O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
  • Donovan Blissett Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, P. O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4138/2031

Abstract

A specimen of the trilobite-produced trace fossil Rusophycus is intimately associated with the annelid-produced meandering burrow Helminthopsis hieroglyphica on the upper surface of an amalgamated quartz arenite of the King Square Formation (late Middle - early Late Cambrian), Saint John Group, southern New Brunswick. Observations suggest that the rusophycid reflects, and is a rather unusual example of, predatory behaviour. Similar, but rare, examples have only occasionally been reported in the geologic record. The occurrence documented herein is the first from strata of this age and also the first from Canada. RÉSUMÉ Un spécimen d'une trace fossilises de trilobite de l'èspece Rusophycus est directement reliée au tube méandrique produit par des annelidés Helminthopsis hieroglyphica sur la surface superieure de ('assemblage de quartz arenite de la formation de King Square (fin du Cambrien intermédiaire au début du Cambrien supérieur), groupe de Saint-Jean, dans le sud du Nouveau-Brunswick. Les observations portent à croire que I'activité rusophycide reflète et traduit même un exemple assez inusité de prestation. D'autres exemples semblables, mais rares, ont à l'occasion éxé observés dans I'histoire géologique. L'exemple cité ici est le premier obtenu dans un étage de cet âge et également le premier du genre au Canada. Traduit par la rédaction

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Published

1999-10-01

How to Cite

Pickerill, R. K., & Blissett, D. (1999). A predatory Rusophycus burrow from the Cambrian of southern New Brunswick, eastern Canada. Atlantic Geoscience, 35(3). https://doi.org/10.4138/2031

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 3 (1999)

Section

Articles

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