On the ichnofossil Treptichnus pedum: inferences from the Nagaur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, India

Sandstone-mudstone interfaces offer an excellent medium for the preservation of the burrows. This study discusses the morphology, ecological niche and correlation based of 291 Treptichnus pedum specimens of the lower Cambrian Nagaur Sandstone, western Rajasthan, India. Petrological attributes of the host sediment are also addressed. Statistical analyses of size (length, width and gap of each segment of T. pedum) were conducted to determine the inter-specific variation. Data suggest that the entire Nagaur assemblage was made by one major group of makers. Overall morphology suggests that these burrows were probably made for shelter and trapping small epibenthic or endobenthic organisms. An overview of the global occurrence of T. pedum shows broad environment tolerance. The Nagaur specimens are compared with various recorded occurrences of T. pedum to assess the nature of the plausible producer organism, its behaviour and taphonomical aspects.