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Petrified Forest National ParkPainted Desert Inn in the 1950s, NPS Photo
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Petrified Forest National Park
Trace Fossils
 
markings on petrified wood that run perpendicular to the grain of the wood

NPS/MARGE POST

These trace fossils represent the work of insects on a living tree over 200 million years ago!

Some fossils are not actual remains of an organism, such as bones, teeth, leaves, and seeds. A trace fossil is a fossilized track, trail, burrow, boring, or other structure that records the presence or behavior of the organism that made it rather than a piece of the organism itself.

 

Late Triassic Trace Fossils found in Petrified Forest National Park
Compiled by W.G. Parker January 14, 2004.

Ichnospecies

Archeoentomichnus metapolypholeos Hasiotis and Dubiel 1995
social insect nest
Holotype: PEFO 10348
Hypodigm: PEFO 10348, 10347, 10350A, 10350B, 10351, 10352

Kouphichinium arizonae Caster 1944
Limuloid trails (Horseshoe crab)
Holotype: USNM 161162

Paleobuprestis maxima Walker 1938
channels in wood surfaces
Holotype: USNM 95870

Paleobuprestis minima Walker, 1938
channels in wood surfaces
Holotype: USNM 95871

Paleoscolytus diverges Walker, 1938
channels in wood surfaces
Holotype: USNM 95872

Paleoipidus perforatus Walker, 1938
tunnels in wood surfaces
Holotype: USNM 95873

Paleoipidus marginatus Walker, 1938
tunnels in heartwood
Holotype: USNM 95874

aetosaur skeleton
Vertebrates of the Late Triassic
Dinosaurs, reptiles, and amphibians, oh my!
more...
phytosaurs
Reptiles of the Late Triassic
General information and species list.
more...
coelophysis
Dinosaurs
General information and species list.
more...
fossil clam shells
Fossils
The Late Triassic paleo-ecosystem is well-represented by fossils found in the park.
more...
red badlands  

Did You Know?
Standing on the edge of a vast badlands landscape, a Spanish explorer is rumored to have named the area "El Desierto Pintado" (The Painted Desert) because the hills looked like they were painted with the colors of the sunset.

Last Updated: December 15, 2006 at 15:29 EST