The Ichnogenus Kouphichnium and Related Xiphosuran Traces from the Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site (Union Chapel Mine), Alabama, USA: Ichnotaxonomic and Paleoenvironmental Implications

Figures & data

Figure 1. Location map; A) Geological map of Alabama and the site map for the Union Chapel Mine Fossil Site (modified from Buta and Kopaska-Merkel 2016) B) Local map for the town of Union Chapel and quarry map of the open pit site. C) Annotated Google image for the Union Chapel Mine locality (Modified from Google Earth images).

Figure 2. Stratigraphic log for the Pottsville Formation and the exposed strata at the Union Chapel Mine site (modified from Pashin 2005). The Star indicates the stratigraphic location of the trace fossil beds.

Figure 3. A) Kouphichnium aspodon, type specimen, AMNH 985.1.6 B) Interpretive sketch of complete trackway of type specimen, AMNH 985.1.6 C) Close-up of bifid impressions of the type specimen, AMNH 985.1.6, indicated by white arrows.

Figure 4. Paleogeographic location: A) Carboniferous global map (after Scotese 1997) B) Eastern USA Appalachian Orogen and Black Warrior Basin paleogeographical map (modified from Pashin 2005) C) Coal age landscape reconstruction for the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama and southeastern USA (after Buta and Kopaska-Merkel 2016) D) Coal age landscape reconstruction for the Black Warrior Basin in Walker County, Alabama (after Buta and Kopaska-Merkel 2016). Source: With permissions to reproduce by the original artist Jim Lacefield.

Figure 5. A) Kouphichnium lithographicum UCM 1377 (AMNH 13020) B) Close up of UCM 1377 (AMNH 13020) C) UCM 1378 (MSC 27958) D) UCM 5015 (NMMNH P-79691) E) UCM 1094 (ANNMNH 2003.2.23) F) UCM 1368 (MSC 27958) G) NMMNH P-78227 H) NMMNH P-78266.

Figure 6. Kouphichnium lithographicum: A) UCM 4049 (MSC 25149) B) Close up of UCM 4049 (MSC 25149) C) NMMNH P-69055.

Figure 7. Kouphichnium aspodon: A) UCM 437 (ANNMNH 2003.2.76/74) B) UCM 5009 (NMMNH P-79689) C) NMMNH P-68994.

Figure 8. Kouphichnium aspodon underprints: A) UCM 1505 (AMNH 13017) B) UCM 544 (MSC 27749) C) UCM 2716 (MSC 28058) D) UCM 2517 (MSC uncatalogued).

Figure 9. Kouphichnium aspodon: A) UCM 5540 (MSC 38456) B) Close up of UCM 5540 (MSC 38456) C) UCM 5157 (MSC 38454) D) Close up of UCM 5157 (MSC 38454).

Figure 10. Kouphichnium aspodon with tail drag: A) UCM 1072 (NLMNH 13199); [Counterpart UCM 1070 (AMNH 6); not figured] B) Shallow underprint of Kouphichnium aspodon with tail drag, UCM 2902 (MSC uncatalogued) C) Shallow underprint of Kouphichnium aspodon with tail drag transitioning to Kouphichnium aspodon without a tail drag, UCM 662 (MSC uncatalogued).

Figure 11. Kouphichnium aspodon underprint fallout interpretation: A) UCM 2517 (MSC) B) UCM 544 (MSC 27749) C) UCM 437 (ANNMNH 2003.2.76/74) D) UCM 662 (MSC uncatalogued) E) UCM 1072 (AMNH 13199).

Figure 12. A) Kouphichnium minkinensis, type specimen UCM 227 (ANNMNH 2003.5.24) B) UCM 2242 (MSC 9324).

Figure 13. Kouphichnium minkinensis: A) UCM 508 (ANNMNH 2003.20.10) B) NMMNH P-69078.

Figure 14. A) Kouphichnium atkinsoni, type specimen NMMNH P-69048 B) MSC 28063.

Figure 15. Selenichnites rossendalensis: A) UCM 107 (AMNH 5920) B) Close-up of UCM 107 (AMNH 5920) C) UCM 1612 (MSC uncatalogued) D) NMMNH P-78237) E) UCM 3790 (MSC uncatalogued) F) MSC 27086.

Figure 16. Unassigned “jumper” tracks: A) “jumper trace” associated with unassigned “xiphosurid tracks”, UCM 5000b (MSC 38462) B) close up of UCM 5000b (MSC 38462).

Figure 17. Unassigned “xiphosurid” tracks: A-B) UCM 1752 (AMNH 13108; counterpart to UCM 1740 (AMNH 6003) C) UCM 1119 (AMNH 5950) D) UCM 723 (AMNH 5959).

Figure 18. Unassigned “xiphosurid” tracks: A) UCM 1740 (AMNH 6003) B) UCM 1738 (MSC uncatalogued) C) UCM 722 (MSC 27764) D) UCM 1748 (AMNH 6014) E) UCM 1356 (MSC 27781) F) UCM 1414 (MSC uncatalogued) G) UCM 1781 (AMNH 6012).

Figure 19. Arborichnus repetitus: A) UCM 4646 (MSC 25968) B) UCM 3549 (MSC 27905).

Figure 20. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction and interpretation of the ichnofaunal assemblages: A) paleoenvironmental reconstruction (modified from Pashin 2005) B) Low tide ichnofossil assemblage C) Rising and falling tide ichnofossil assemblage D) High tide ichnofossil assemblage (based on original work by Minkin 2005).

Figure 21. Underprint fallout of a Cincosaurus trackway, UCM 1708 (NMMNH P-43509).

Buta, R. J., and Kopaska-Merkel, D. C. 2016. Footprints in Stone, Fossil Traces of Coal-Age Tetrapods. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press.

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Pashin, J. C. 2005. Pottsville stratigraphy and the Union Chapel Lagerstätte. In Pennsylvanian footprints in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama, ed. R. J. Buta, A. K. Rindsberg, and D. C. Kopaska-Merkel, vol. 1: 39–58. Birmingham, Alabama: Alabama Paleontological Society Monograph.

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Scotese, C. R. 1997. Continental Drift, 7th ed., 79. PALEOMAP Project, Arlington, Texas.

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Minkin, S. C. 2005. Paleoenvironment of the Cincosaurus beds, Walker County, Alabama. In Pennsylvanian footprints in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama, ed. R. J. Buta, A. K. Rindsberg, and D. C. Kopaska-Merkel, vol. 1, 31–38. Birmingham, AL: Alabama Paleontological Society Monograph.

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