Trace fossils from the Permian of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract: Non-marine trace fossils from the Permian of Antarctica are systematically described and possible depositional environments are discussed. The studied material derives from sedimentary sequences consisting mainly of sandstone and shale at Vestfjella and Kirwanveggen, western Dronning Maud Land. The ichnofauna is considered to represent the Scoyenia ichnofacies. Ichnotaxa present in the material are Aulichnites, Cochlichnus, Helminthopsis, Lockeia, Palaeophycus, Skolithos and a number of traces placed in open nomenclature. Depositional environments are represented by floodplain sediments at Vestfjella and glacial, post-glacial and fluvial sediments at Kirwanveggen.