Stellavelum arborensis igen., sp. nov., Stellavelum uncinum igen., isp. nov. and Termitichnus namibiensis isp. nov.; New Ichnofossils from Cenozoic deposits of Namaqualand,South Africa |
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| Authors: | W.R. Miller T.R. Mason |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Marine Geoscience Unit, Council for Geoscience, Department of Geology , University of Natal , Durban, 4041, South Africa;2. Director, Armagh Planetarium , College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DB, Northern Ireland |
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| Abstract: | Three new ichnotaxa are described from Cenozoic paralic to continental sediments on the west coast of South Africa. Stellavelum arborensis and Stellavelum uncinum are assigned to a mixed Skolithos and Cruziana ichnofacies and Termitichnus namibiensis is assigned to the Termitichnus ichnofacies. An interpretation of the sedimentary record shows that the Stellavelum trace makers were probably sediment ingesting annelids that lived in dense colonies in sheltered lagoonal environments during Neogene times. The Termitichnus namibiensis trace fossils are interpreted as actively backfilled termite nests which form an early to mid‐Pleistocene palimpsest, terrestrial ichnofabric which is superimposed on the older marine sediments. |
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| Keywords: | annelid burrows termite nests Cenozoic SETTING Namaqualand South Africa |
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