Serpentichnus
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''Serpentichnus'' (‘snake-like trace’) is a possible Permian trace fossil found in New Mexico, US. It takes the form of foot imprints separated by discontinuous groves interpreted as body imprints. It is attributed to early amphibians ( Lysorophia) swimming near the bottom of a shallow body of water with a motion like that of a sidewinding snake. The interpretation of these marks as a trace fossil is controversial. The marks have also been interpreted as tool marks, formed by a rotating piece of debris that periodically scratched the bottom of a flowing body of water.


References

Vertebrate trace fossils Lysorophians {{permian-animal-stub