Ophiomorpha is anichnotaxon, usually interpreted as a burrow of an organism (specifically a crustacean[2]) living in the near-shore environment.[3] The burrow lining is more or less smooth on the inside, and densely to strongly mammalated or nodose on the outside, due to the packing of nodules for support of the burrow. Branching is irregular but Y-shaped where present.[4] It (particularlyO. nodosa) is often considered part of theSkolithosichnofacies,[5] where it has occurred (i.e. nearshore environments) since the early Permian,[6] though it (particularlyO. rudis) has also occurred in deep water settings (Nereites ichnofacies) since the Late Jurassic, such as well-oxygenated turbidites.[7]
More generallyOphiomorphaand other crustacean-generated burrows first become prominent in the Jurassic.[8]
^Boggs, S. (1995).Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall, Inc.
^Frey, R.W., Howard, J.D. and Pryor, W.A. (1978). "Ophiomorpha: Its morpholgic, taxonomic, and environmental significance".Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.23:199–229.Bibcode:1978PPP....23..199F.doi:10.1016/0031-0182(78)90094-9.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Frey, R.W. & Pemberton, S.G (1984). "Trace fossil facies models". In Walker, R. (ed.).Facies Models. Toronto, Ontario: Geological Association of Canada. pp. 189–207.
^Tchoumatchenco, Platon; Uchman, Alfred (2001). "The oldest deep-sea Ophiomorpha and Scolicia and associated trace fossils from the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous deep-water turbidite deposits of SW Bulgaria".Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.169 (1–2):85–99.Bibcode:2001PPP...169...85T.doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(01)00218-8.
