- Skolithos
"Skolithos" (formerly spelt "Scolithus" or "Skolithus"cite journal
author = Gevers, T.W.
coauthors = Frakes, L.A.; Edwards, L.N.; Marzolf, J.E.
year = 1971
title = Trace Fossils in the Lower Beacon Sediments (Devonian), Darwin Mountains, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica
journal = Journal of Paleontology
volume = 45
issue = 1
pages = 81-94
url = http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-3360(197101)45%3A1%3C81%3ATFITLB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-J
accessdate = 2008-04-21] ) is a commontrace fossil ichnogenus whose original form consisted of approximately vertical cylinders. One well-known occurrence of Cambrian trace fossils is the famous 'Pipe Rock' of northwest Scotland. The 'pipes' that give the rock its name are closely packed straight tubes, which in this case were presumably made by a worm-like organism. The name given to this type of tube or burrow is "Skolithos", which may be 35 cm (14") in length and between 2Fact|date=April 2008 to 5 cm (0.8 to 1.6") in diameter. Such traces are known worldwide from sands and sandstones deposited in shallow water environments, from the Cambrian Period (Ma|cambrian|period end|cambrian|0) onwards. Some have a helical form. [cite journal
doi = 10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.04.011
title=A new helical trace fossil from the Lower Devonian of Spitsbergen (Svalbard) and its palaeoenvironmental significance
authors=E. Volohonskya, M. Wisshakc, D. Blomeierb, A. Seilachera, S. Snigirevskyd and A. Freiwaldc] "Skolithos" is typically marine,cite journal
author = Trewin, N.H.
coauthors = McNamara, K.J.
year = 1995
title = Arthropods invade the land: trace fossils and palaeoenvironments of the Tumblagooda Sandstone (? late Silurian) of Kalbarri, Western Australia
journal = Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences
volume = 85
pages = 177-210] but is also known from freshwater lacustrine settings.cite journal
author = Woolfe, K.J.
year = 1990
title = Trace fossils as paleoenvironmental indicators in the Taylor Group (Devonian) of Antarctica
journal = Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
volume = 80
pages = 301-310] "Trypanites " is a similar form but is excavated in hard substrates as a boring trace fossil.References
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