Observations on the ichnospecies Monomorphichnus multilineatus from the Nagaur Sandstone (Cambrian Series 2-Stage 4), Marwar Supergroup, India

• Published in: Journal of Earth System Science 2018-07, Vol.127 (5), p.1-31, Article 75
• Main Authors: Sharma, Mukund, Pandey, S K, Ahmad, S, Kumar, K, Ansari, A H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Brackish water; Cambrian; Cluster analysis; Correlation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Feeding behavior; Food; Foods; Fossil animals; Fossils; Geology; Linkage analysis; Lithology; Monomorphichnus multilineatus; Palaeoecology; Paleoecology; Preservation; Sandstone; Sedimentary environments; Sedimentary rocks; Sediments; Sequences; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Stone; Storms; Stratigraphy; Survival; Systematics; Taphonomy
• ISSN: 0253-4126; 0973-774X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12040-018-0973-9

The Ediacaran–Cambrian Marwar Supergroup exposed in the western Rajasthan, India yielded abundant sigmoidal scratches assigned to ichnospecies Monomorphichnus multilineatus from the Nagaur Sandstone belonging to the Cambrian (Series 2-Stage 4). Nagaur M. multilineatus are recorded from the intertidal regime. It is an addition to already known depositional environments for this ichnospecies, which are known from shallow marine, wave-dominated, to non-marine or brackish water and storm-dominated sequences. Classical systematics of M. multilineatus is enriched with additional information in the paper. Its significance has been discussed regarding the palaeoecology of trace producers. Comprehensive statistical analyses help reveal its behaviour and feeding pattern of the causative organism of M. multilineatus . Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), average linkage and Pearson Correlation were performed to establish the natural grouping and behaviour of the specimens. HCA indicates that the studied Nagaur specimens belong to ichnogenera Monomorphicnus and ichnospecies, i.e., multilineatus . Pearson correlation, involving thickness and length of individual specimen, was positive. It indicates that the amount of food required by individual adult specimen was more and thereby requiring more grazing to provide enough food for survival. All the known occurrences of M. multilineatus are reviewed in the present study for their mode of preservation, depositional environment, palaeoecology and taphonomy.