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The Shuffle: Traces of Ancient Life in By Anne Miller, M.S. Body vs. A body fossil is the fossilized A trace fossil is a record of remains of an organism after the interaction between an it dies organism and the substrate

(Caron et al. 2011) Resting trace Body fossil Locomotive trace

Organism *Ichnology is the behavior study of trace (GeoDZ.com 2010) : 1-2 billion years Mesozoic

275 Ma

Paleozoic

510 Ma

Pre- Stromatolites Cambrian: Tonto Mesozoic

Tapeats Bright Angel Muav 275 Ma

Paleozoic

(modified from Blakey and Ranney 2008)

510 - 500 Ma

Pre- Cambrian

(Peng et al. 2012) Cambrian: (~510 Ma)

Palaeophycus

Rusophycus Tapeats Sandstone burrows

Cambrian: (~505 Ma)

Glossopleura mckeei

Lingulid

Ehmaniella basilica Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma)

Trace Fossils!

Cruziana

Palaeophycus Trace Fossils Tracemakers?

Bergaueria

(Huanzhen Li & Qiang Ou) Xianguangia

Cochlichnus

Peronochaeta Trace Fossils Tracemakers?

Teichichnus

Ottoia

Ancalagon

Planolites Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma)

*May have been created by the appendages of the large predator, Anomalocaris

Monomorphichnus lineatus var giganticus Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma)

Fox 2016 Cambrian: (~500 Ma)

Solenopleurella erosa

Solenopleurella porcata : (~350 Ma)

Bryozoans

Crinoids Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma)

Coral Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma) Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma)

Nautiloid

Gastropod -: (~320-295 Ma) Pennsylvanian-Permian: Supai Group (320-295 Ma)

Fern Impressions Pennsylvanian-Permian: Supai Group (320-295 Ma)

Vertebrate Trackway Supai Group – Supai Group – Manakacha Formation Oldest trackway reported from Grand Canyon! Permian: (~285 Ma)

Conifer Impressions

Dragonfly Wing

Walpia hermitensis Permian: Hermit Formation (~285 Ma)

Fern Impressions Permian: (~280 Ma)

Modern analogue – Namib Desert Permian: Coconino Sandstone (~280 Ma)

Reptile Trackways Permian Coconino Sandstone

Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum

Francischini et al. 2019 Permian Coconino Sandstone

Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum

Possibly made by an amphibian-like reptile, such as the diadectomorph

Francischini et al. 2019 Permian Mesozoic 275 Ma

Paleozoic

510 Ma

Pre- Cambrian Permian: (~275 Ma)

Brachiopods

Productus bassi

Derbyia regularis Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma)

Bryozoans

Rugose and

Sponges Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma)

Conulariid

Conularia kaibabensis Permian Mesozoic Ocean 275 Ma

Burrow Networks

Paleozoic

510 Ma

Pre- Cambrian Thalassinoides Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma)

Vertebrates: Sharks!

Phyllodont tooth plate

Crassidonta stuckenbergi Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma)

Vertebrates: Sharks!

Gilkmanius sp.

Megactenopetalus kaibabanus Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma)

Kaibab Sharks!

Great White Mesozoic: Moenkopi and Chinle formations

Megactenopetalus kaibabanus

Rotodactylus cursorius

Trackway of a small Petrified wood five-toed reptile

Triassic: 250-230 Ma Example of Fossil Vulnerability

Fern impressions in the Hermit Formation

04/15/2013 Example of Fossil Vulnerability

Same fern impressions in the Hermit Formation

03/15/2017

*Fossils are vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic erosion Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009

SEC. 6302. MANAGEMENT. “(a) In General- The Secretary shall manage and protect paleontological resources on Federal land using scientific principles and expertise. The Secretary shall develop appropriate plans for inventory, monitoring, and the scientific and educational use of paleontological resources, in accordance with applicable agency laws, regulations, and policies. These plans shall emphasize interagency coordination and collaborative efforts where possible with non- Federal partners, the scientific community, and the general public.”

SEC. 6303. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. “The Secretary shall establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources.” Grand Canyon Fossil Resources

There is a new fossil exhibit in the visitor center!

There are new Grand Canyon fossil trading cards for the public National Fossil Day! Takeaways Takeaways

. Tell your guests about the fossils you learned today! . Inform your guests on significance and vulnerability of fossils in Grand Canyon . If you find a fossil: . Leave it there . Take a picture with GPS coordinates if you can . Email: [email protected]