Abstract Scolicia is one of the most conspicuous trace fossils in lower shoreface deposits of the Miocene Chenque Formation of Patagonia, Argentina. This ichnotaxon consists of horizontal, sinuous or meandering trace fossils with a laminated backfill and two parallel strings located at the base. Abundant body fossils attributed to Brisaster iheringi occur in close association to these trace fossils. The echinoids are very well preserved, and most of the specimens have some areas with their spines attached in life position. In particular, preservation of the subanal tufts of spines, associated to isopores (which are interpreted as being associated to funnel building tube feet), supports the interpretation that these organisms are the producers of Scolicia isp. A shaft connecting the burrow with the sediment-water interface was not observed in vertical sections of the excavations, although on bedding plane surfaces, some small circular tube outlets are recognized. However, the great diversity and abundance of ichnofossils co-occurring in these deposits may preclude adequate identification of vertical structures. These deposits provide an excellent opportunity to integrate trace fossil data, body fossil information and observations from modern analogues in order to perform a morpho-functional analysis of Scolicia.

中文翻译：

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中新世陈阙组（阿根廷巴塔哥尼亚）浅海沉积物中的 Scolicia 及其生产者：功能形态及其对理解挖洞行为的影响

摘要 Scolicia 是阿根廷巴塔哥尼亚中新世陈阙组下岸面沉积物中最显着的遗迹化石之一。这种鱼群由水平的、蜿蜒的或蜿蜒的痕迹化石组成，带有层状回填物和位于底部的两条平行线。大量属于 Brisaster iheringi 的身体化石与这些痕迹化石密切相关。海棘鱼保存得非常完好，大部分标本都有一些区域，它们的棘刺附着在生活位置。特别是，与等孔（被解释为与漏斗构建管脚相关）相关的肛门下刺簇的保存支持这些生物是脊柱侧弯的生产者的解释。在挖掘的垂直剖面中没有观察到连接洞穴与沉积物 - 水界面的竖井，尽管在层理平面上可以识别出一些小的圆管出口。然而，在这些矿床中同时出现的巨大多样性和丰富的地层化石可能妨碍对垂直结构的充分识别。这些沉积物提供了一个极好的机会来整合追踪化石数据、身体化石信息和现代类似物的观察结果，以便对 Scolicia 进行形态功能分析。