Nododendrina nodosa Vogel, Golubic & Brett, 1987

Wisshak, Max, 2017, Taming an ichnotaxonomical Pandora’s box: revision of dendritic and rosetted microborings (ichnofamily: Dendrinidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 390, pp. 1-99 : 60-61

Nododendrina nodosa Vogel, Golubic & Brett, 1987

Fig. 22

Nododendrina nodosa Vogel et al., 1987: 270 , fig. 4.

Hyellomorpha cheimadendritica Plewes, 1996: 184 , pl. 32, figs 1–3 .

Clionolithes hirsuta – Solle 1938 (partim): 162, fig. 13 (figs 2–4, 8, 11, 14 = C. radicans , figs 5–7, 10 = C. cervicornis , figs 9, 15, 17–18 = C. pannosa ).

Nododendrina – Vogel 1987: fig. 4.

Nododendrina nodosa – Buatois et al. 2017: 161, fig. 75E.

Original diagnosis

Rosette-shaped repeatedly branched systems, up to 1.5 mm in diameter (1.06 ± 0.33 [26]). Branches diverge radially, and immediately beneath the substrate surface from a central node (presumably at the original point of entry), with frequent anastomoses. The central nodes are 75–270 µm (163 ± 64 [10]) wide, and up to 300 µm high (207 ± 55 [10]). The node represents the deepest penetrating part of this endolith. Radiating branches originate from the central node as high-crested ridges lowering gradually toward the periphery. The branches diverge in straight line, at angles ranging from 32° to 88° (63 ± 15 [63]), or are curved into U-shaped forks. The branches are high and narrow in cross section, 18–47 µm (30.74 ± 7.56 [100]) wide and 50–120 µm (87.05 ± 19.80 [88]) high, covered with larger and smaller spiny outgrowths. The outlines of these branches appear scalloped in both vertical and horizontal projections. Dorsal spines (i.e., those toward the interior of the brachiopod shell) end blindly, whereas the ventral ones form numerous connections with the shell surface.

Emended diagnosis

From a central node below the point of entry, prostrate branches of rosette diverge radially as highcrested ridges, lowering gradually towards the periphery. Branches diverge in straight lines, at various angles, bear frequent anastomoses, are high and narrow in cross section, and are covered with larger and smaller spiny outgrowths, with dorsal spines ending blindly, whereas the ventral ones form numerous connections with the shell surface.

Original description

n/a, but see detailed original diagnosis above.

Type material, locality and horizon

Holotype ( Fig. 22A ) is cast in epoxy from a Mediospirifer brachiopod shell from the Erie lakeshore bluffs S of the mouth of Eighteenmile Creek 4.0– 5.5 km SW of Wanakah, New York, USA. Wanakah Member, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group, Givetian, Devonian. The holotype is deposited in the Institut für Geowissenschaften , Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, Germany ( Bo 1/1 ).

Remarks

Plewes (1996) established Hyellomorpha cheimadendritica (a nomen nudum because her thesis was not formally published), which bears close enough morphological similarity to N. nodosa , albeit smaller in dimension, to be regarded as a junior synonym. Furlong & McRoberts (2014) regard N. nodosa as a junior synonym of Clionolithes radicans , a view that is not supported here.

Nododendrina nodosa is the largest ichnospecies of Nododendrina , and is the only ichnospecies displaying high-crested galleries, the central node thus being less pronounced in its vertical extent. While N. europaea shows only a single plexus emerging from the main node, N. nodosa shows a plexus on either side of the node or galleries radiating from all around.

Figures

Fig. 22. Nododendrina nodosa Vogel, Golubic & Brett, 1987. A. SEM of holotype in an epoxy cast of the brachiopod Mediospirifer Bublichenko, 1959 from the Devonian at Lake Erie, New York, USA. B. A more densely branched and anastomosing growth form in an epoxy cast of Athyris McCoy, 1844 from the Devonian at Lake Erie, New York, USA.

Fig. 1 (page 7). Morphological characters of dendrinid microborings with respect to overall shape and symmetry of the trace, its vertical profile, openings to the substrate surface, orientation of entrance tunnel (where present), branching pattern and surface texture (in order of decreasing relevance as ichnotaxobase).

Fig. 2. Dendrina dendrina (Morris, 1851) comb. nov. A. Original illustration of belemnite with various traces, including D. dendrina (arrows; reproduced from Quenstedt 1849: pl. 30, fig. 36); provenance unresolved. B. Original amalgam, including D. dendrina (arrows and label “d”; reproduced from Quenstedt 1885: pl. 38, fig. 39). C. Re-illustration of original Quenstedt Dendrina (reproduced from Plewes 1996: pl. 22, fig. 5). D. Original illustrations of Talpina dendrina (= D. dendrina; reproduced from Morris 1851: pl. IV, figs 4–7; 5 = Talpina ramosa; 6a = Trypanites solitarius). E. Morris’ original belemnite from the Upper Cretaceous of Norfolk, UK, including the lectotype of D. dendrina (encircled). F–G. Close-up of lectotype under incipient and transparent light; the inlet canal is clearly visible. H–I. Three paralectotypes in the same belemnite. J–K. Planar and oblique views of the holotype of junior synonym D. fluensis Hofmann, 1996, illustrating the typical multi-tier occurrence, irregular branching, and meandering galleries; SEM of epoxy cast of a belemnite from the lower Maastrichtian at Kronsmoor, Germany. L. Holotype of junior synonym D. crassa Hofmann, 1996, within the morphological range of D. dendrina; SEM of epoxy cast of a belemnite from the lower Maastrichtian at Kronsmoor, Germany.

Fig. 3. Dendrina belemniticola Mägdefrau, 1937. A. Original illustration of belemnite with various traces including D. belemniticola (arrow; reproduced from Quenstedt 1849: pl. 30, fig. 36); provenance unresolved. B. Original amalgam, including D. belemniticola (arrow; reproduced from Quenstedt 1885: pl. 38, fig. 39). C. Re-illustration of original Quenstedt Dendrina (reproduced from Plewes 1996: pl. 22, fig. 3); inlet tunnel roughly at 11h in this and the following four sub-figures. D. Lectotype of D. belemniticola in an upper Senonian belemnite from Rosenthal near Peine, Germany (compare to Mägdefrau 1937: pl. IV, fig. 1). E. Holotype of junior synonym D. orbiculata Hofmann, 1996. SEM of epoxy cast of an upper Campanian belemnite from Lüneburg, Germany. F. Paratype of junior synonym D. constans Hofmann, 1996. SEM of epoxy cast of a lower Maastrichtian belemnite from Lüneburg, Germany. G. Holotype of junior synonym D. constans. SEM of epoxy cast of a lower Maastrichtian belemnite from Lüneburg, Germany. E–G illustrate the morphological range of D. belemniticola from almost completely fused radiating galleries, to partially fused galleries forming anastomoses, to rarely fused radiating galleries. H. Detail of partly obscured inlet tunnel connecting to centre of a paratype of junior synonym D. orbiculata. SEM of epoxy cast of an Upper Cretaceous belemnite from Lüneburg, Germany. I. Rarely observed overlap of D. belemniticola in a lower Maastrichtian belemnite from Rügen, Germany. J. Specimen of D. belemniticola (left) next to a D. dendrina (right) at the very tip of a lower Campanian belemnite from Höver, Germany.