Undichna

Taxobox
color = #e0d0b0
name = "Undichna"


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
fossil_range = Silurian - ?
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
genus = "Undichna"
(Ichnogenus)
subdivision_ranks = Species
(Ichnospecies)
subdivision =
*"Undichna bina" Anderson 1976
*"Undichna britannica" Higgs (1988?)
*"Undichna consulca" Higgs
*"Undichna insolentia" Anderson, 1976
*"Undichna radnicensis" Turek
*"U. simplicitas" Anderson, 1976

"Undichna" is a fish-fin, or fish-swimming fossil trail left as a fossil impression on a substrate, or the opposite impression on an overlying substrate; this type of fossil is an ichnofossil, in this case a specific ichnogenus, "Undichna"; the term "undichna" is composed of the words: 'und'–'ichna', for "wave-trace".

At present, the oldest known "Undichna" were made by Cephalaspids, that only had presumptive motion scenarios, due to the physiological form of the cephalaspids as predating the teleosts, (bony fishes). The trails are from the border of England and Wales, from 400 mya, in an ancient riverbed environment.

Undichna species

"Undichna simplicitas" have been found in Alabama (USA) in the Pottsville Formation, (Langsettian or Westphalian A, Upper Carboniferous); also Indiana, Kansas (USA), and Spain, (El Montsec and Las Hoyas).

ee also

*Lateral undulation, a type of undulation for fish, sea animals, and snakes
*Trace fossil
*Fossil trackway
*Cephalaspid

External links

* [http://www.research-tv.com/stories/science/fishtrails/transcript/ "Undichna" and the England Cephalaspid trackways]