We're working on the description of turtle shell fragments from the late Miocene of Ukraine. There are some unusual traces (shallow parallel grooves) on the dorsal surface of one of the specimen. We tentatively interpreted these traces as rodent tooth marks. Could someone suggest any publications where such traces on either fossil of extant turtle shell are described/figured or at least mentioned. Thank you very much in advance!
Have you checked these are not echinoid tooth grazing traces - Gnathichnus?
Many thanks for your reply! I've not checked it, but I think it is not possible - this was a terrestrial turtle and it was buried in freshwater deposits.
Dear Dr. Kovalchuk,
Mikuláš and collaborators have described and figured a series of tooth marks from Miocene continental deposits of the Czech Republic, including parallel grooves in turtle shells interpreted as gnawing traces produced by rodents. I believe their contribution would be very helpful to your current research.
Their paper was published in the journal Ichnos and is also available here on Research Gate as a full, downloadable text. Below is the full reference for the paper.
Mikuláš R, Kadlecová E, Dejfar O, Dvořák Z. 2006. Three new ichnogenera of biting and gnawing traces on reptilian and mammalian bones: a case study from the Miocene of the Czech Republic. Ichnos. 13:113– 127.
Kind regards,
Joaquin Pedro
Dear Joaquin Pedro,
Thank you so much! That is really what I need! If our article will appear some day - I will definitely mention you in the Acknowledgements ;)
Best regards, Oleksandr
Dear Dr. Kovalchuk,
You are welcome! It's always a pleasure to share information, especially in an interesting topic such as bioerosion in turtle shells, that is generating some very interesting research lately.
Best regards,
Joaquin Pedro
Dear Oleksandr.
I only knows gnatichnus trace fossils, but from Jurassic marine carapace. Maybe interesting for you?
Reolid, M., Santos, A., Mayoral, E., 2015, Grazing activity as taphonomic record of necrobiotic interaction: A case study of a sea turtle carapace from the Upper Jurassic of the Prebetic (south Spain): Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas, v. 32, núm. 1, p. 21-28.
More references on turtle carapaces and other fossil bones are therein.
Good interesting topic.
Best wishes
Matias
Dear Matias,
thank you so much! Very interesting and useful article.
Best regards, Oleksandr
Dear Oleksandr,
check about the ichnogenus Machichnus. Apparently your bite traces fit well on the diagnosis of such ichnotaxon.
All the best,
Heitor
Dear Heitor!
Thank you, I highly appreciate your reply! I will check this ichnotaxon.
Cheers, Oleksandr
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