taxonID	type	description	language	source
CD6EEC39FFF2FF9BFF17484A241FF889.taxon	description	Except for Bichordites, recorded by Villegas-Martín et al. (2014) in Pinar del Río section, all the Scolicia group morphologies found in the Capdevila Formation deposits can be assigned to the ichnogenus Scolicia. These show bilobate and trilobate morphology, a meniscate infill (backfill structure), two parallel sediment strings at each side of the burrow floor, and a flat or concave up ridge between the strings (e. g., Smith and Crimes, 1983; Plaziat and Mahmoudi, 1988; Uchman, 1995; Belaústegui et al., 2017). Three different morphologies prevail among these specimens and can be assigned to: Scolicia prisca, Scolicia vertebralis, and Scolicia isp. var laminites. In the case of the Scolicia vertebralis, we demonstrated that this ichnospecies is a preservational variant de Scolicia, and thus named as Scolicia isp. var vertebralis in this work.	en	Villegas-Martín, Jorge, Netto, Renata G., Rojas-Consuegra, Reinaldo, de Gibert, Jordi M. (2025): Paleoecology and taphonomy of spatangoid echinoid-produced burrows (Scolicia) in slope and basin floor deposits from the Eocene of Cuba. Palaeontologia Electronica (a 4) 28 (1): 1-17, DOI: 10.26879/1271, URL: https://doi.org/10.26879/1271
CD6EEC39FFF2FF9BFF17484A241FF889.taxon	description	The structures are characterized by an epichnial trilobate furrow in a longitudinal section formed by two convex lateral slopes and a bottom. Slightly inclined convex asymmetric ribs compose the backfill structure that covers the slopes, more noticeable in some portions. The upper margins of the lateral slopes are elevated above the bedding surface, in general. The bottom is characterized by a convex central ridge-like structure usually covered by asymmetric fine transverse ribs perpendicular to the long axis and showing two sediment parallel strings / rows at each side (Figure 4). The convex ridge varies in width and height (e. g., Smith and Crimes, 1983; Plaziat and Mahmoudi, 1988; Uchman, 1995). The furrows show a straight to slightly meandering trajectory, with a predominance of the latter. The furrow width varies along the structure and the length ranges from 157.9 mm to 198.7 mm among the analyzed specimens. The width varies from 29.2 mm to 31.6 mm. The ribs are variable in size, with a length between 9.5 mm and 16.4 mm and a width between 1.8 mm and 3.5 mm. The bottom is 2.0 – 3.8 mm wide. In some specimens, part of the furrow bottom is characterized by a single groove (Figure 4 D). In others, only part of the furrow is formed by the convex central ridge and the two sediment parallel strings; the slopes are not identified (Figure 4 E). Smith and Crimes (1983) assigned the latter morphology to Scolicia isp. Some of these specimens were assigned to S. prisca previously by Rojas-Consuegra and Villegas-Martín (2009) and Villegas-Martín et al. (2014). In both cases, considering their partial preservation, they were herein re-assigned to S. cf. prisca (sensu Uchman, 1995). Scolicia isp. var. vertebralis Villegas-Martín et al., 2024 The specimens assigned to Scolicia isp. var. vertebralis are bilobate furrows preserved as concave epirelief and occur exclusively in the flysch deposits of the Artemisa section (MNHNCu- 96.001296). The furrows occur in fine- to medium-grained sandstone beds, are horizontal to the bedding plane, and show straight to slightly meandering trajectories (Figure 5). They are straight to curved wide V-shaped furrows with elevated slopes in cross-section (Figure 5 C-D). The slopes are oblique with asymmetric arcuate ribs (backfill infill) that extend to the margin (Figure 5 A-B). The furrow displays a bottom composed of a single central groove of sediment (e. g., Uchman, 1998). The furrows are 29.2 – 31.6 mm wide. The ribs are 9.5 – 16.4 mm long and 1.8 – 3.5 mm wide. The single central groove is 2.0 – 3.8 mm wide. This morphology has been assigned to the S. vertebralis ichnospecies, which included, in general, furrows with slopes covered by asymmetric ribs and a bottom composed of a single central sediment row. As suggested for the Scolicia vertebralis ichnospecies, the single central row of sediment constituted the original space occupied by the dorsal ridge and parallel strings (Figures 4 D, 5). Therefore, the morphology that characterizes S. vertebralis can also be observed in parts of S. prisca. For instance, one specimen shows S. prisca grading to S. vertebralis due to the erasure of the dorsal ridge (Figure 4 D). Therefore, we identified that the S. vertebralis morphology can be produced as result of erosion of the convex central ridge and the two parallel strings in S. prisca. Thus, we considered S. vertebralis as a preservational variant, named as Scolicia isp. var vertebralis in this work. Initially, these specimens here assigned to Scolicia isp. var vertebralis were previously ascribed to? Psammichnites isp. by Villegas-Martín (2009) and Scolicia cf. prisca by Rojas-Consuegra and Villegas-Martín (2009).	en	Villegas-Martín, Jorge, Netto, Renata G., Rojas-Consuegra, Reinaldo, de Gibert, Jordi M. (2025): Paleoecology and taphonomy of spatangoid echinoid-produced burrows (Scolicia) in slope and basin floor deposits from the Eocene of Cuba. Palaeontologia Electronica (a 4) 28 (1): 1-17, DOI: 10.26879/1271, URL: https://doi.org/10.26879/1271
CD6EEC39FFF2FF9BFF17484A241FF889.taxon	description	According to Uchman (1995), this morphology represents the preservation of the upper part of echinoid burrows with similar morphology to Bichordites and Scolicia. Some studied specimens were assigned to Scolicia isp. var. laminites based on the identification of the convex central ridge and the two sediment rows / strings at the bottom (Figure 6 C-F). The names Scolicia var. laminites or Scolicia isp. have been used to characterize burrows showing similar morphology (the former “ Laminites ”) without referring to the presence of the parallel strings (Poiré et al., 2003; Rebata et al., 2006). The attribution of trace fossils to a non-specific ichnospecies is a common practice in ichnology, especially when clear diagnostic features are lacking. However, the identification of the parallel strings and / or convex central ridge should be crucial for attributing the trace fossil to Scolicia.	en	Villegas-Martín, Jorge, Netto, Renata G., Rojas-Consuegra, Reinaldo, de Gibert, Jordi M. (2025): Paleoecology and taphonomy of spatangoid echinoid-produced burrows (Scolicia) in slope and basin floor deposits from the Eocene of Cuba. Palaeontologia Electronica (a 4) 28 (1): 1-17, DOI: 10.26879/1271, URL: https://doi.org/10.26879/1271
CD6EEC39FFF1FF95FF1A49F020D5FBAF.taxon	description	Natural observations and experiments in aquaria demonstrated that the ichnogenus Scolicia (as the morphologies described herein) corresponds to the burrows resulted from the grazing activity of spantagoid echinoids with double drainage tubes (e. g., Ward and Lewis, 1975; Howard et al., 1974; Bromley and Asgaard, 1975; Smith and Crimes, 1983; Bromley et al., 1997; Belaústegui et al., 2017). These large meniscate traces are typically produced by backfilling when the spatangoid plows through the sediment (Smith and Crimes, 1983; Kanazawa, 1992, 1995; Bromley et al., 1997). The animal excavates the sediment in the front, which is transported to the posterior part of the burrow, where it is packed with mucus. The open burrow is limited to the volume immediately surrounding the echinoid test. The two open drains (related to sediment strings) are kept behind by action of the subanal tuft spines and the corresponding tube feet, while periodically, a respiratory shaft may be constructed for aeration purposes or to feed upon surface detritus (Smith and Crimes, 1983; Plaziat and Mahmoudi, 1988; Kanazawa, 1992, 1995; Bromley et al., 1997). It is well-known that many echinoids from different fossil and extant families of the Order Spantangoida possess the morphology to produce Scolicia - like burrows (e. g., Bromley and Asgaard, 1975, Bromley et al., 1995, 1997; Kanazawa, 1995; Asgaard and Bromley, 2007). Fossil species of different families, such as Schizasteridae (Brisaster iheringi) and Hemiasteridae (Hemiaster expergitus), were observed within or associated with Scolicia traces (Fu and Werner, 2000; Carmona et al., 2020). The fossil record of spatangoid in Cuba is extensive and includes specimens of different families, including the Schizasteridae and Hemiasteridae families. In addition, genera such as Hemiaster, Schizaster, and Linthia have been identified in Eocene deposits (e. g., Sanchez Roig, 1926, 1949; Kier, 1984). Thus, these taxa might be potential tracemakers of the Scolicia specimens studied herein. However, no body fossil of spatangoid echinoids were reported in the studied sections bearing Scolicia, although undetermined fragments of echinoids are known in the marine deposits of the Capdevila Formation (Brust et al., 2011). Therefore, further detailed studies on the echinoderms found in the Capdevila Formation are necessary to try to infer the Scolicia tracemakers more accurately.	en	Villegas-Martín, Jorge, Netto, Renata G., Rojas-Consuegra, Reinaldo, de Gibert, Jordi M. (2025): Paleoecology and taphonomy of spatangoid echinoid-produced burrows (Scolicia) in slope and basin floor deposits from the Eocene of Cuba. Palaeontologia Electronica (a 4) 28 (1): 1-17, DOI: 10.26879/1271, URL: https://doi.org/10.26879/1271
