Research paper

Elipsoideichnus meyeri Roselli 1987 revisited: A helicoidal fossil bee nest from the Paleogene of Uruguay

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MARIANO VERDE
SNI-ANII, PEDECIBA, Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, CP 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay. verde@fcien.edu.uy
Corresponding author

JORGE F. GENISE
CONICET,  Museo  Argentino  de  Ciencias  Naturales,  División  Icnología,  Av.  Ángel  Gallardo  470,  1405,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina. jgenise@macn.gov.ar

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ABSTRACT

The rare helicoidal trace fossil Elipsoideichnus meyeri Roselli 1987 was known only from its holotype. New materials were collected and revised, confirming the validity and interpretation of this ichnotaxon. Its previously inferred internal structure, composed of two pair of internal, opposite cells per whorl, was checked and completed with these new materials. Sections of specimens show that cells have a thick lining. The finding of a spiral cap in cells finally confirms that unknown bees are the trace makers of E. meyeri, possibly related with Oxaeinae or Halictinae.

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Keywords:  Elipsoideichnus   meyeri,   bee   nest,   Asencio   Formation, Paleogene, Uruguay.

How to cite:  Verde, M. & Genise, J.F. 2014. Elipsoideichnus meyeri Roselli 1987 revisited: A helicoidal fossil bee nest from the Paleogene of Uruguay. Spanish Journal of Palaeontology, 29 (1), 25-32.

Received 18 April 2013, Accepted 12 September 2013, Published 30 June 2014

https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.29.1.17485

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