Tetrapod and Large Burrows of Uncertain Origin in Triassic High Paleolatitude Floodplain Deposits, Antarctica

Abstract

Other| June 01, 2001 Tetrapod and Large Burrows of Uncertain Origin in Triassic High Paleolatitude Floodplain Deposits, Antarctica MOLLY F. MILLER; MOLLY F. MILLER 1Department of Geology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar STEPHEN T. HASIOTIS; STEPHEN T. HASIOTIS 2Department of Geography, Geology, and Anthropology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar LOREN E. BABCOCK; LOREN E. BABCOCK 3Department of Geological Sciences and Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JOHN L. ISBELL; JOHN L. ISBELL 4Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JAMES W. COLLINSON JAMES W. COLLINSON 5Department of Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information MOLLY F. MILLER 1Department of Geology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235 STEPHEN T. HASIOTIS 2Department of Geography, Geology, and Anthropology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809 LOREN E. BABCOCK 3Department of Geological Sciences and Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 JOHN L. ISBELL 4Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201 JAMES W. COLLINSON 5Department of Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 14 Dec 2000 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-5323 Print ISSN: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2001) 16 (3): 218–232. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2001)016<0218:TALBOU>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 14 Dec 2000 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation MOLLY F. MILLER, STEPHEN T. HASIOTIS, LOREN E. BABCOCK, JOHN L. ISBELL, JAMES W. COLLINSON; Tetrapod and Large Burrows of Uncertain Origin in Triassic High Paleolatitude Floodplain Deposits, Antarctica. PALAIOS 2001;; 16 (3): 218–232. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2001)016<0218:TALBOU>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract Two types of large diameter burrows, recognized by non-overlapping size distributions, occur in high paleolatitude floodplain deposits of the Lower Triassic Fremouw Formation, Shackleton Glacier area, Antarctica. Type G (giant) burrows are gently dipping tunnels 8 to 19 cm in diameter. Type L (large) burrows are 2 to 6.5 cm in diameter, curved or subhorizontal tunnels that rarely branch; scratch markings on both burrow types generally are parallel or tangential to the long axis of the burrows.Type G burrows are interpreted as produced by tetrapods based on similarity in size, architecture, and surface markings to Permian burrows from South Africa that contain complete skeletons of therapsids. These are the first tetrapod burrows described from Antarctica. Type L burrows have characteristics of both fossil tetrapod and crayfish burrows, precluding identification of an unique producer.Triassic tetrapods, including therapsids, that lived in high southern latitudes probably burrowed to dampen the effects of seasonal environmental fluctuations, just as do many of their mammalian counterparts living today in high latitudes. The paleolatitudinal and paleooclimatic distributions of burrowing therapsids and their mammalian descendents can be assessed by focusing search efforts on very large burrows, and by identifying producers using criteria delineated herein; this will clarify the extent to which the burrowing habit originated and persisted in high latitudes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.