Carboniferous trace fossils from Vélez-Málaga (Maláguide Complex, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)

Abstract

A stratigraphic section of the Maláguide Complex cropping out at the easternmost part of the Málaga Province (SE Spain) is studied. Previous palaeontological data were unknown in this area. A lower stratigraphic Interval I has yielded fossil Equisetales plants, probable ferns and centrimetric xylic fragments at several centimetric slate levels interspersed between the dominating micaceous, brown, medium to coarse-grained sandstone. The ichnofossil Planolites annularis occurs at numerous levels of Interval I. An upper stratigraphic Interval II has yielded two particularly rich ichnoassemblages at its lower part, which are the main object of our study. The upper ichnoassemblage also contains skeletal remains of metazoans or moulds, namely remains of crinoid stalks, trilobites, and bivalves, as well as probable microbial mats. The two main ichnoassemblages belong to the Cruziana ichnofacies and have provided, overall, eleven ichnogenera including fourteen ichnotaxa: Bergaueria a?. perata, Dactyloidites a?. cabanasi, Diplichnites ichnosp. A, Diplichnites ichnosp. B, Dolopichnus ichnosp. indet., Monocraterion ichnosp. indet.