Last update of this page: 08. March 2017

Tripartichnus VALLON & RÖPER, 2006

Type ichnospecies:
Tripartichnus triassicus VALLON & RÖPER, 2006

Diagnosis:
Bilaterally symmetrical depressions on bedding planes showing a division along the longitudinal axis into three parts: front, middle and rear, being broad, medium and narrow in width respectively (VALLON & RÖPER, 2006: p. 157).

Derivation of name:
From Latin tres = three and pars = part; after the morphological division of the trace fossils into three parts.

Remarks:
None.

Environment:
Resting traces of arthropods that may occur in a variety of environmental settings. T. triassicus derives from fluvial deposits, perhaps with an occasional slightly brackish influence. T. imbergi occurs in the lagoons of the lithographic limestones around  Solnhofen, especially in the localities of Pfalzpaint that are interpreted as tidal canals connecting several lagoonal basins with each other (VALLON & RÖPER, 2006) and therefore fully marine.

Known Stratigraphic Range:
Lower Triassic – Upper Jurassic (VALLON & RÖPER, 2006)

Known ichnospecies:

• Tripartichnus triassicus VALLON & RÖPER, 2006
• Tripartichnus imbergi VALLON & RÖPER, 2006

Detailed information for each ichnospecies

• Tripartichnus triassicus VALLON & RÖPER, 2006
• Synonymy:
  

  *

  2006

  Tripartichnus triassicus

  - VALLON & RÖPER, p.157; Fig. 2; Fig. 3.

• Diagnosis: Tripartichnus in which the front and the middle parts are divided longitudinally; elongated and lanceolate at its rear (VALLON & RÖPER, 2006: p. 157).
• Orientation: Preserved as negative epichnion or positive hypichnion.
• Morphological category (Knaust, 2012): Imprint.
• Ethological category: Cubichnia.
• Environment: Fluvial, perhaps slightly brackish in times.
• Derivation of name: After the Triassic system.
• Types: Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Germany; Holotype Inventary-No.: SMNS 64849/1; Paratypes Inventary-No.: SMNS 64849/2 to SMNS 64849/11.
• Type locality: Former building site in Keltern-Dietlingen, Germany (address: Felix-Wankel-Straße 6, D-75210 Keltern-Dietlingen; GPS: 48°53'26"N 8°37'03"E).
• Type horizon: Lower Triassic, Upper Buntsandstein, Plattensandstein, Röt-Folge.
• Geographical distribution: Only known from the type locality.
• Remarks: As tracemaker of T. triassicus was Euthicarcinus sp. identified with high probability.

• Tripartichnus imbergi VALLON & RÖPER, 2006
• Synonymy:
  

  ?	1969	Körperabdrücke von  Crustaceen	- JANICKE, p. 164; Pl. 9 Fig. 1.
  	1999	Hörnergrabgänge	- RÖPER et al., p. 16; Fig. 11, Fig. 12.
  *	2006	Tripartichnus imbergi	- VALLON & RÖPER, p.162; Fig. 6; Fig. 7.

• Diagnosis: Tripartichnus is preserved as a negative epirelief. It consists of a front part bearing two lengthwise orientated ovals and two antenna-like extensions, a middle rounded triangular part, and a rear rectangular part (VALLON & RÖPER, 2006: p. 162).
• Orientation: Preserved usually as negative epichnion, but also as positive hypichnion.
• Morphological category (Knaust, 2012): Imprint.
• Ethological category: Cubichnia.
• Environment: Fully marine or marginal marine.
• Derivation of name: After Theodor Imberg, founder of the Natursteinwerke Imberg (Bochum, Dortmund, Pfalzpaint, Munich).
• Types: Bürgermeister-Müller-Museum Solnhofen, Germany; Holotype Inventary-No.: BMMS 537; Paratypes Inventary-No.: BMMS 701 to BMMS 703.
• Type locality: Imberg Quarry between the villages Pfalzpaint, Gungolding and Walting, Germany; GPS: 48°54'46"N 11°19'39"E).
• Type horizon: Lithographic limestones of Pfalzpaint (Solnhofen Formation; Early Tithonian, hybonotum Zone, rueppellianum Subzone).
• Geographical distribution: Schrimmel Quarry near Walting (N 48°54’44’’, E 011°19’18’’); Imberg quarry near  Pfalzpaint; and others.
• Remarks: As tracemaker of T. imbergi was Palinurina sp. identified with high probability.

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

• Craticulichnum