Guest contribution by Richard POKORNÝ; last update of this page: 20. Apr. 2017

Funalichnus POKORNÝ, 2008

Type ichnospecies:
Fucoides? strangulatus FRITSCH, 1883 = Funalichnus strangulatus (FRITSCH, 1883) POKORNÝ, 2008 [by monotypy].

Diagnosis:
Subvertical to vertical, straight, simple burrows ovoid in cross-section, smooth, ornamented by closely spaced, swollen ribs oriented obliquely to the axis. The lower termination is tapered to the one side and smooth. Fill is structureless, homogenous, and finer than the surrounding rock (POKORNÝ, 2008: pp. 53-54).

Derivation of name:
From Latin funalis = funicular, adjective of funis = string, rope.

Remarks:
None.

Environment:
Marine, in littoral sandy environments (POKORNÝ, 2008).

Known Stratigraphic Range:
Cretaceous, Upper Cenomanian (POKORNÝ, 2008) to Middle Miocene (TIWARI et al., 2013).

Known ichnospecies:

• Funalichnus strangulatus (FRITSCH, 1883)
• Funalichnus bhubani TIWARI, RAJKONWAR & PATEL, 2013

Detailed information for each ichnospecies

• Funalichnus strangulatus (FRITSCH, 1883)
• Synonymy:
  

  	1842	Hamites intermedius	- GEINITZ, p. 68, pl. 17, fig. 35.
  	1850	Hamites intermedius	- GEINITZ, p. 68, pl. 17, fig. 35.
  *	1850	Hamites strangulatus	- d’ORBIGNY, p. 125; not illustrated.
  	1872	Hamites strangulatus	- FRITSCH & SCHLÖNBACH, pp. 45-46, pl. 13, fig. 22.
  	1883	Fucoides? strangulatus	- FRITSCH, pp.136-137, text-fig. 132a-c.
  	2008	Funalichnus strangulatus	- POKORNÝ, p. 54, figs. 4 A-C, 5 A-H, 6 A-C.

• Diagnosis: Subvertical to vertical, straight, simple burrows ovoid in cross-section, smooth, ornamented by closely spaced, swollen ribs oriented obliquely to the axis. The lower termination is tapered to the one side and smooth. Fill is structureless, homogenous, and finer than the surrounding rock (POKORNÝ, 2008: pp. 53-54).
• Orientation: Vertical to subvertical, preserved as full-relief (endichnia).
• Morphological category (KNAUST, 2012): Subvertical, unbranched burrow, cylindrical, passive fill, no lining/mantle.
• Ethological category: Domichnion.
• Environment: Marine, in littoral sandy environments.
• Derivation of name: From Latin strangulatus = strangulate.
• Types: Geological collection of the University of J. E. Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic, Neotype: Inv.-No. Bartošovice-I/I8/Ia.
• Type locality: Bartošovice v Orlických horách, Czech Republic.
• Type horizon: Cretaceous, Upper Cenomanian.
• Geographical distribution: Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (Bohemian Massive, central Europe).
• Remarks: None.

• Funalichnus bhubani TIWARI, RAJKONWAR & PATEL, 2013
• Synonymy:
  

  *

  2013

  Funalichnus bhubani

  - TIWARI, RAJKONWAR & PATEL, 2013, p. 2, fig. 2A-G.

• Diagnosis: Long, smooth, cylindrical, unlined, unbranched, vertical or steeply inclined burrow ornamented with closely spaced, distinct, cylindrical segments oriented either perpendicular or slightly oblique to the axis. Dimensions of segments are mostly uniform but vary slightly along the length (TIWARI et al. 2013: p. 2).
• Orientation: Vertical to subvertical, as full-relief (endichnia).
• Morphological category (KNAUST, 2012):  Subvertical, unbranched burrow, cylindrical, passive fill, no lining/mantle.
• Ethological category: Domichnion.
• Environment: Backshore, marginal marine.
• Derivation of name: After the Bhuban Formation of Mizoram, India.
• Types: Palaeontology Laboratory of the Department of Geology, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796 004, Mizoram, India; Holotype: Inv.-No. Ich/D/46; Paratypes: Inv.-Nos. Ich/D/47, 48 and 49.
• Type locality: Bawngkawn-Durtlang road section, Aizawl, Mizoram, North East India.
• Type horizon: Fine- to medium-grained, grey-coloured and bioturbated sandstone bed of Middle Bhuban Unit, Bhuban Formation, Surma Group (Lower to Middle Miocene).
• Geographical distribution: North East India.
• Remarks: Funalichnus bhubani differs from F. strangulatus in general morphologic features and dimensions; it is relatively a large burrow with observed length in the range of 120-200 mm and diameter in the range of 10-36 mm. Cylindrical bodies are either symmetrical or asymmetrical and individual segments show slight variation in their morphology and interspaces between them are either horizontal or inclined towards the right or the left side and in some cases diameter gradually increases downwards (TIWARI et al., 2013).

Similar ichnogenera (Please allow for pop-up windows!):

• N.N.