In the last decade, ichnological analysis has been revealed as a tool in the characterization of bottom current processes and products (contourites). Evolution of large contourite deposits (drifts) is determined by several control factors one of them being changes in paleo­environmental (ecological and depositional) conditions, affecting sedimentological and ichnological features at several orders of magnitude. Miocene deep-marine deposits in Cyprus allow for an interpretation of the influence of bottom currents on sedimentation. This contribution presents ichnological research focused on ichnofabric analysis, based on the investigation of a section near Spitali (Pakhna Formation). The palaeoenvironmental changes during the evolution of a Miocene contourite drift are discussed. The carbonate succession can be divided into 4 units (A–D). The study focuses on the lower and middle parts (A–C) consisting dominantly by decimetre- to meter-thick bigradational sequences of bioclastic contourites, interbedded hemipelagic/pelagic deposits, turbidites, and reworked turbidites, and a few debrites. The lower part (A) of the succession is dominated by sandy bi-gradational contourite sequences, while the middle part (B and C) comprises predominantly mud-rich contourites forming thinner, bi-gradational sequences. The sedimentary stacking pattern records the long-term upslope migration of the drift. Significant variations in ichnological properties are observed through A to C units, as revealed in the registered ichnofabrics, and three main ichnofabrics have been differentiated. The lower part of it (A) displays the vertical traces ichnofabric, characterized by an absence/scarcity of discrete traces (ii 1–2) and dominant vertical structures showing scarce cross-cutting relationships. Unit B is differentiated by the Zoophycos ichnofabric, dominated by Zoophycos, showing the highest abundance of traces (ii 3–5), with vertical and horizontal structures (i.e. Palaeophycus, Planolites, and Thalassinoides), and cross-cutting relationships. The Unit C shows the vertical-horizontal traces ichnofabric, with low/moderate (ii 2–3) vertical and horizontal traces (i.e. Planolites and Thalassinoides) but an absence of Zoophycos. These variations in ichnofabrics are interpreted as reflecting changes in environmental conditions on the drifts through time, in terms of oxygenation, hydrodynamic energy, sedimentation rates, and food availability, from a proximal/shallower, more energetic setting, followed by a short-lived shift to a distal/deeper environment, and a subsequent return to proximal/shallower conditions.

The early Cretaceous dinosaur fauna of Mongolia is poorly known, in contrast to the extensively documented Upper Cretaceous record. Here we describe recently excavated dinosaur trackways from the historic Saijrakh locality from the Barremian–Aptian Shinekhudag Formation. The ichnoassemblage includes multiple trackways of large sauropods and theropods preserved on a single bedding plane. The sauropod trackways are wide-gauge and exhibit a unique mosaic of features: the manus prints have a distinct pollex impression (a plesiomorphic trait), but also possesses posterior lobes suggestive of derived soft-tissue pads. The pes prints are characterized by straight, anteriorly directed digits I–IV. The combination of primitive and derived characters is most consistent with a basal titanosauriform trackmaker, providing new insights into sauropod locomotor evolution. Associated theropod tracks are large, broad (as wide as its length), and functionally tridactyl, with wide interdigital angles (>60°). The theropod tracks confirm the presence of large predators in this ecosystem. Beyond individual morphologies, the high density of trackways, with frequent overprinting, indicates that the site represents a zone of repeated transit or a high-traffic corridor. The parallel sauropod trackways may further infer that these large-bodied herbivores followed optimal pathways to minimize locomotor costs as modern elephants do.

Fundalutum tielongtanensis isp. nov. represents the first record of anomuran microcoprolites from Upper Cretaceous shallow-marine carbonates of the Tibetan Plateau. It occurs in great abundance in ooidal grainstones of the Tielongtan Group bearing no other microfossils and assigned to an inner platform depositional setting. An early-middle Campanian age is assumed based on the presence of the orbitolinid Calveziconus lecalvezae Caus & Cornella below and above the microcoprolite-bearing samples. Fundalutum tielongtanensis represents the third ichnospecies of Fundalutum Senowbari-Daryan & Kuss all recorded from the middle-late Cretaceous interval. Besides minor differences in size, the three ichnospecies differ above all by the arrangement of the canals notably their orientation and position with respect to the symmetry plane.

The occurrence of the ichnogenus Psammichnites from the Pennsylvanian Rod El-Hamal Formation, Wadi Araba, Eastern Desert of Egypt, represents its first record in Africa. Specimens occur mostly on rippled troughs of a sandstone layer deposited in an offshore transition setting. This ichnogenus is characterized by sinuous to looped, backfilled trails that are present most commonly in positive epirelief and are marked by a distinctive median dorsal structure. Densities are among the highest recorded so far for this ichnotaxon, reaching coverage of circa 45–50% on bed surfaces (Bedding Plane Bioturbation Index [BPBI] 4–5). Three ichnospecies have been identified, in order of abundance, Psammichnites plummeri, P. grumula, and P. cf. P. implexus. A global compilation of late Paleozoic occurrences further supports the affinity of Psammichnites with marginal- and open shallow-marine environments, under brackish to normal-marine salinity conditions, respectively, instead of hypersalinity as recently proposed. Psammichnites appears to be a cosmopolitan ichnogenus showing a broad latitudinal distribution during the late Paleozoic, having been particularly widespread during the Pennsylvanian.

Exceptionally long trackways and well-preserved tracks of birds from the surface of a fine-grained ash of the late Pleistocene Laacher See Tephra are figured and discussed in terms of ichnotaxonomy, paleoenvironment and behavior of the producers. A new ichnospecies, Gruipeda goodallae, is proposed to encompass these tracks. The previous attribution to galliform birds, namely capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), is considered possible. The producers were most likely foraging for food in a landscape covered by pumice. The lack of ichnological evidence for both courtship behavior and pectinations on the birds’ digits is consistent with previous assumptions on the timing of the Laacher See eruption in late spring or early summer.

We describe a plant trace fossil that formed as a result of stem growth in response to environmental change. The plant stems are likely sphenopsids, as evidenced by occasional body fossils found among and within morphologically similar traces. The traces, in situ, are scattered in distribution, likely because of rhizomatous growth by the tracemaker. The vertical length appears to be the result of continued primary stem growth following repeated sediment deposition in a fluvial environment. We also propose the environmental conditions under which these traces were created. The trace fossils are irregularly star-shaped in cross-section, very long and narrow relative to diameter, with longitudinal striae on the trace wall.

Trace fossils serve as valuable indicators for palaeoecological and paleoenvironmental research, recording organism behaviour influenced by environmental parameters. Trace fossils within braided river systems, however, have been rarely investigated. In addition, despite the growing interest in ichnological studies within the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil (CRSB), there remains a notable scarcity of research focusing on integrated ichno-sedimentological analysis including aspects of both trace fossils and their sedimentological context. This study analyzes and interprets ichnological data derived from two subsurface logs from the Paleogene Volta Redonda Basin. Core samples were examined for sedimentary facies, revealing four facies within the Resende Formation, related to unidirectional tractive flows and overbank deposits of a braided depositional paleoenvironment. The ichnocoenoses included Skolithos, and Beaconites. The results indicate that the Volta Redonda Basin experienced diverse depositional conditions characterized by dominant high-energy levels, while the presence of rhizohaloes in low-energy deposits suggests relative short periods of subaerial exposure. The dominance of Skolithos ichnofacies in the few bioturbated levels suggests that high-energy conditions were a barrier to intense colonization of the channels, while sparse signatures of Scoyenia ichnofacies characterizes colonization in desiccated overbank deposits.

Chondrites is a common ichnogenus and typified by Chondrites targionii, with peak appearance in Upper Cretaceous deep-marine deposits. These burrows were commonly developed in soft substrate, which suffered from subsequent compaction that obliterated their three-dimensional (3-D) morphology and characteristics aiding the producers’ interpretation, although deep-tier firmground burrows occur too. Micro-CT-scanning of a sample from an Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) carbonate firmground (southern Germany) allowed the reconstruction of the 3-D morphology of C. targionii for the first time. For comparison with the sample, all six C. targionii syntypes were morphometrically analysed. Within the sample, two-dimensional (2-D) and 3-D morphometric analyses identified 48 burrow parts containing 221 branches (up to the third branch order), another 29 tunnels with obviously very low branch width, one crossing tunnel and another tunnel with scale-leaf-shaped structures on its outer surface. Eleven identified burrow portions are likely parts of three larger burrow systems. With intermediate effect size, statistically compared branch widths revealed significantly decreasing widths from unbranched tunnels over root branches to their side branches, which, along with the scale-leaf-shaped structures, may indicate a vermiform tracemaker. The results of the 3-D analyses revealed the ratio of tunnel width to burrow system width as useful discriminator of C. targionii covering a larger portion of its morphological variation.

Neoichnological studies are temporally appropriate for environmental geoscience and can provide baseline data on ecosystem health prior to human activity. Neoichnological research can also be applied in natural hazards assessments and coastal defence initiatives. The future of neoichnology is promising and is a field of study that warrants much more research attention.

Extreme hypersaline environments are known to be challenging ecosystems for the survival of organisms. These extreme environments are characterized by high evaporation, resulting in a drastic reduction in the ichnological and bioturbational diversity. Moreover, such environments are poorly understood on account of limited documentation in rock records. The Great Rann of Kachchh forms an exclusive salt-encrusted geomorphic facet and is India’s most extensive exposure to hypersaline deposits. The area is inundated by tidal ingress from the Arabian Sea during the monsoon, followed by an evaporative period. Moreover, tidal ingress in the Rann of Kachchh and its effect on the ecology ispoorly documented. Ichnological investigations of the hypersaline Great Rann of Kachchh revealed four recurring trace fossils, Arenicolites, Palaeophycus, Polykladichnus, and Skolithos, with annelids, and crustaceans as the most likely producers. Furthermore, the existence of their juvenile forms is indicated by the presence of small and tiny subsurface burrows. Hence, in the present research, we used ichnology to document the limit and mechanism of tidal ingress to demarcate the tidal inundation boundary up to the east of Khadir Island. We propose a hypothesis identifying the tidal inundation limit by larval recruits burrows and present an ichnological model for a hypersaline environment.