Invertebrate traces in pseudo-coprolites from the Upper Cretaceous Marília Formation (Bauru Group), Minas Gerais State, Brazil

HEITOR FRANCISCHINI; VOLTAIRE PAES NETO; AGUSTIN MARTINELLI; VICTOR PEREIRA; THIAGO MARINHO; VICENTE TEIXEIRA; MARA FERRAZ; MARINA BENTO SOARES; CESAR SCHULTZ

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016 vol. 57 p. 29 - 29

0195-6671

Pseudo?coprolites are inorganic structures often confused with fossil faeces. The absence of some diagnostic features, such as inclusions, coprofabrics, grain adhesion, and defined shape, suffices to disregard these structures as coprolites. Herein we revise the so?called ?coprolites? from the Serra da Galga Member of the Marília Formation (Maastrichtian of Bauru Group, Paraná Basin), at ?Ponto 1 do Price? locality near the town of Peirópolis (Uberaba municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and conclude that they are, in fact, pseudo?coprolites related to calcretes. These data also agree with the geological setting of ?Ponto 1 do Price?, composed mainly of coarse sandstones and conglomerates, in which these pseudo?coprolites were found. In addition, some of these specimens exhibit superficial traces, here described as a new ichnospecies, Asthenopodichnium fallax isp. nov., interpreted as the oldest occurrence of a bioerosion trace possibly produced by invertebrates in freshwater settings.