3D morphology of post mortem acrothoracican borings in Famennian heterocorals – a morphological diversification or a continuum ichnospecies?

Barnacle borings were found in six heterocoral skeletons. They are present as small (up to 2.9 mm long), slender, pouch-shaped with tapering, slit-like openings. The investigated made by acrothoracican cirripedes, which mostly do not have a shell and bore into hard substrates protect their “naked” bodies. first occurrence of skeletons the Oligophylloides Różkowska, 1969 from Upper Devonian Tafilalt Platform was reported recently Weyer 2016. Here, authors results detailed study remains numerous Jebel Bou Ifarherioun (Famennian, Anti-Atlas, Morocco). on basal part but also broken branches stems corallum occurred post mortem . There is no indication syn vivo coral-barnacle interaction tissue-covered areas. used micro-CT scans visualize 3D morphology pits, orientation, distribution. Additionally, an assemblage 75 pits carry out ordination cluster analyses, showed that previously proposed ichnospecies may be continuum morphological variability. In basis measurements authors, studied fit any known ichnotaxa. absence bourrelets excludes possibility belong ichnogenus Rogerella Saint-Seine, 1951. Hence, seem contradict synonymization Bromley D’Alessandro (1987) subsequent leave room for further research discussion this topic. Although inferred boring organism filter feeder and, thus, depends currents, did find preferential orientation borings. samples considered here best-preserved barnacle date.