A new trace fossil produced by insects in fossil wood of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Missa & tilde;o Velha Formation, Araripe Basin, Brazil

Author(s)

Turman, Viviane Q. P. ; Peixoto, B. de C. P. E. M. ; Marinho, T. da S. ; Fernandes, Marcelo Adorna

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of South American Earth Sciences; v. 109, p. 8-pg., 2021-03-25.

Abstract

A new insect trace in silicified wood is described from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Missa similar to o Velha Formation, Araripe Basin (Northeastern Brazil). Pluriramosus missaovelhensis igen. et isp. nov. consists of a main tunnel slightly curved, parallel to the growth rings (tangencial). The main tunnel has short lateral tunnels connected to it at almost right angles and with rounded terminal portions. The internal surface of the main tunnel has parallel concave grooves (bioglyphs). Based on a review of wood boring patterns produced by modern insects, the xylophagous beetles (Coleoptera) are most likely the producers of the trace fossil due to the similarity with the borings produced by modern beetles of the Platypodidae family. This is the first trace fossil attributed to beetles for the Missa similar to o Velha Formation and the oldest record of Coleoptera for the Araripe Basin. This record contributes to the enrichment of taxonomic ichnology and expands the knowledge about ancient insects of the Araripe Basin. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/05824-5 - Ichnofossils attributed to phytophagous arthropods in silicified wood of Missão velha formation, upper Jurassic - Lower Cretaceous, Araripe Basin, Brazil
• Grantee: Viviane Querollaine Pires Turman
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation