Ichnological Research of Silurian–Devonian Strata and the Zoophycos Distribution in the Paraná Basin

Abstract

The Silurian–Devonian strata of the Paraná Basin (southern Brazil) have a wide variety of ichnofossils. The first records date from the beginning of the last century, with pioneering studies in 1912 addressing the Furnas and Ponta Grossa formations. Significant advances in the ichnological knowledge of these units occurred between the 1980s and 1990s, emphasizing ichnotaxonomic characterizations. These ichnological studies were important for better understanding and describing the main depositional environments, ecological strategies, biostratigraphy, and the relation with the preserved paleofauna. In this contribution, we review this knowledge and analyze the distribution and paleoecological significance of Zoophycos, the most remarkable ichnotaxon in the Lower Paleozoic beds of the Paraná Basin.

Keywords

• ichnofossils
• silurian
• devonian
• paraná basin