trace fossils - Cambrian vermiform (worm-like) trace fossils from the Davis Formation, Missouri - hand specimen

Not all fossils are the remains of former living things. In some cases, the actual organism has not been preserved, possibly because it had no hard parts. However, the traces left by these organisms are classified, even though the organism that made them has either not been connected with the traces left behind, or was never preserved. 

These are vermiform (worm-like) Cambrian trace fossils, similar in form to the trace fossils Planolites Nicholson, 1873, or Palaeophycus (Hall, 1847). These are ichnofossils, evidence of ancient life. Planolites burrows were formed by active backfill. Palaeophycus burrows were backfilled passively, and it is often difficult to distinguish between these two. The geologic range of these two is Precambrian to Recent.

Planolites and Palaeophycus are ichnogenera, defined by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature as "a taxon based on the fossilized work of an organism." Dinosaur footprints and worm burrows are examples.

Collected from the Cambrian Davis Formation near Bonne Terre, St. Francois County, Missouri.

Thin plates of a hard silty shale. If two smaller plates are in a photo, you get both.

Select a specimen: When more than one specimen is shown, you can select a particular specimen by telling us what is in the photo with it, a black and silver pen, a black mechanical pencil or one of those plus some number of coins, or you can let us make the selection.

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