#ichnofossil

Feeding patterns

These swirly patterns were made by living organisms at the bottom of the sea approximately 250 million years ago while they were feeding on an organic matter mixed within the sediment. The pictured sediments were buried by more sediments, hardened and eventually brought to the surface by tectonic processes without messing up such signs of ancient life.

South coast NSW, Australia

Ichnofossilsortrace fossils, are marks left in the sedimentary record by living organism but are not a body part of the organism. For example, pictured are burrows left by an organism that was feeding on an organic matter in the sediment. These provide an evidence of ancient organism activity after sediment deposition but before it turned into hard rock.

Ulladulla, Australia