A REPORT ON FIVE NEW ICHNOFOSSIL LOCALITIES IN THE LATE TRIASSIC NEWARK BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA

Five new localities in southeastern Pennsylvania, three in Bucks County and two in Montgomery County, are producing a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate ichnofossils. All the sites occur within a short stratigraphic interval from the Tumble Falls Member of the Lockatong Formation to the Warford Member of the Passaic Formation.

Vertebrate tracks recovered so far include Atreipus isp., Brachychirotherium isp., Gwyneddichnium majore, Rhynchosauroides brunswickii, and Rhynchosauroides hyperbates. Many small reptile tracks and larger tridactyl footprints have also been found that, due to less than optimal preservation, lack diagnostic features but probably are poor examples of some of the ichnotaxa listed above. The fish trace Undichna isp. has also been found.

Arthropod trackways found include Acanthichnus isp., Diplichnites isp., Koupichnium isp., and Lithographus hieroglyphicus. Invertebrate burrows include Cochlichnus isp., Gordia isp., Helminthoidichnites isp., Scoyenia isp., and Treptichnus isp. The possible arthropod feeding trace Selenichnites isp. was also recovered. A variety of invertebrate burrows and traces have been found which are as yet unidentified.

In addition to the ichnofossils, a single phytosaur tooth was found and a few plant impressions. All five localities are still active as of this writing and more discoveries are anticipated. Indeed, new localities and fossils are continuing to further our knowledge of Pennsylvania during the Late Triassic.