Shallow-marine trace fossils from the Silurian–Devonian Furada Formation of Asturias, Spain

Abstract

In the cliffs between Munielles and Bahínas beaches, the Furada Sandstone Formation (Furada Formation) crops put, marking the transition between the Silurian and Devonian periods. These deposits accumulated in a shallow marine environment affected by episodic sedimentation, partly as a result of storms. Based on the study of materials in
collections and new fieldwork, 36 distinct ichnotaxa have been identified, described, and illustrated: Arenicolites isp., Asterosoma ludwigae, Bergaueria hemispherica, Bifungites munizi, Chondrites isp., Cruziana acacencis, Cruziana quadrata, Curvolithus multiplex, Davichnia cantabrica, Dimorphichnus isp., Gordia marina, Halopoa imbricata, Heimdallia chatwini, Helicodromites mobilis,  Helminthoidichnites tenuis, Helminthopsis abeli, Imponoglyphus isp., Lockeia siliquaria, Monomorphichnus isp. A, Monomorphichnus? isp., Nereites isp., Palaeophycus tubularis, Phycodes circinatum, Planolites montanus, Protovirgularia dichotoma, Psammichnites implexus, Psammichnites plummeri, Ptychoplasma excelsum,
Rusophycus pudicus, Rusophycus isp. A and isp. B, Rosselia socialis, Skolithos isp., Teichichnus rectus, Trichophycus isp., and indeterminate tracks. The associations document
a wide variety of ethological categories corresponding to diverse trophic types, although dominated by deposit feeders and detritivores. The overall assemblage records a diverse benthic community, although with individual suites showing moderate to low ichnodiversity. The studied ichnofauna illustrates a Silurian–Devonian example of the Cruziana Ichnofacies.