Semidendrina pulchra Bromley, Wisshak, Glaub et Boutquelen, 2007

ID16375
Fossil groupBioerosional trace fossils
TaxonSemidendrina pulchra
AuthorBromley, Wisshak, Glaub et Boutquelen, 2007
ReferenceBromley et al., 2007a
Parent taxonSemidendrina

Description(s)

Wisshak et al., 2008:

Description. Only one specimen of this enigmatic dendriniform microboring was encountered (Fig. 9C-E). The trace measures 600 µm in length and 300 µm in maximum width at a penetration depth of 240 µm. Its dendritic branches display uni- or bilateral ramifications with angles of 45-55° parallel to the substrate and some of the individual branches fuse to form an anastomosing pattern (Fig. 9E). In addition to the substrate parallel galleries, several branches, some of which with perpendicular sub-branches extend straight into the substrate (Fig. 9C). All branches exhibit diameters of 15-25 µm, have slightly swollen terminations and bear many short whip-shaped protrusions (Fig. 9D). The trace is not entirely typical for this ichnospecies but still within the diagnostic limits, and the main chamber may be small or hidden beneath the surrounding microborer carpet.