Trace fossils

[Rockin' Ric]

Two favorite trace fossil finds from several days ago while out running errands. Second pic, there's a lot of activity going on the stone... two different species left their trackways, ones a hopper (tonganoxichnus) and the other appearing to be a diplichnites? Carboniferous Period, Parkwood Formation, Southeastern USA. 

[Fossildude19]

Great finds, Ric.

[Mark Kmiecik]

Beautiful! I love it when tracks are OBVIOUSLY tracks. Thank you for sharing them with us.

[Sjfriend]

Those are nice. I would live to see what creature made the tracks on the 1st piece. Those are interesting looking.

[minnbuckeye]

Interesting trackways!!! I am not versed in tracks and have a question for you. When you say hopper, does that mean the insect hopped from one of the tracks to the next leaving a splash pattern in the mud??

[Nimravis]

Great pieces Ric.

[Rockin' Ric]

15 hours ago, Sjfriend said:

Those are nice. I would live to see what creature made the tracks on the 1st piece. Those are interesting looking.

The paleo experts down here say the tracks were made by Xiphosurans (a type of horseshoe crab)? I dunno, they look more like they were created by a flying insect???

[Rockin' Ric]

9 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

Interesting trackways!!! I am not versed in tracks and have a question for you. When you say hopper, does that mean the insect hopped from one of the tracks to the next leaving a splash pattern in the mud??

The answer to your question is yes, according to the Paleo experts down here. They call these type tracks Tonganoxichnus. As for what made them, they agree upon, Xiphosurans (a type of horseshoe crab)?