Bioerosion in the Late Devonian placoderm remains from the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland

Dworczak PG, Szrek P, Wilk O (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Paleobiologi (Polish Academy of Sciences, Institue of Paleobiology)

Book Volume: 70

Pages Range: 629-639

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.4202/app.01220.2024

Abstract

We report the first occurrence of trace fossils in placoderm bones from the Upper Devonian of the Holy Cross Mountains. A taxonomic analysis of three ichnogenera revealed the earliest evidence of Sulculites (ie., Sulculites bellus), characterised by curved grooves known from the tortoise shells, the potential Osteocallis? isp. consists of irregular and shallow grooves, which were first described on dinosaur bones from continental deposits, while Karethraichnus? isp. being a deep and cylindrical boring, recognized for the first time in turtle shells. They show the evidence of post mortem erosional activity by organisms (e.g., worms) that penetrated the decaying carcasses to search for nutritional particles, graze microbial mats and colonize the osteic substrate. The massive dermal bones of placoderms seem to be appealing to scavengers, albeit rather as an opportunistic behaviour. Nevertheless, this uncommon finding may be caused by the relatively limited attention that has been paid to this phenomenon. The described traces also represent the oldest evidence of macrobioerosion in osteic substrate, as well as the oldest documented occurrence of these forms that have been known so far.

Involved external institutions

Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences / Instytut Nauk Geologicznych, Polskiej Akademii Nauk (ING PAN) PL Poland (PL) University of Oslo NO Norway (NO)

How to cite

APA:

Dworczak, P.G., Szrek, P., & Wilk, O. (2025). Bioerosion in the Late Devonian placoderm remains from the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 70(4), 629-639. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.01220.2024

MLA:

Dworczak, Patrycja G., Piotr Szrek, and Olga Wilk. "Bioerosion in the Late Devonian placoderm remains from the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland." Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 70.4 (2025): 629-639.

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