First record of the trace fossil Protovirgularia in the Passaic Formation (Late Triassic), Newark Supergroup, near Milford, New Jersey

Abstract

Fine-grained siltstones of the Late Triassic Passaic Formation, near Milford, New Jersey, has yielded the first evidence of the trace fossil Protovirgularia in the Newark Supergroup of New Jersey. Associated trace fossils include Helminthoidichnites, Lockeia, Scoyenia, Spongeliomorpha, and the reptile footprint Rhynchosauroides, representing the Scoyenia ichnofacies. Associated sedimentary structures include desiccation cracks, raindrop impressions, tool marks, and cross-bedding. The Passaic sediments were deposited under shallow water lacustrine shoreline conditions subject to periodic subaerial exposure.

Keywords:

• Protovirgularia
• Passaic Formation
• Late Triassic
• Newark Supergroup
• New Jersey

Acknowledgments

I thank Feng Qi (Kean University) for all her technical help. I also thank Luis Buatois (University of Saskatchewan), Alfred Uchman (University of Jagiellonian), and Noelia Carmona (Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro) for constructive suggestions that improved the original manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.