The trace fossil Cardioichnus planus from the lower Miocene of Algeria: the first record from Africa and a probable endemic tracemaker

Abundant Cardioichnus planus SMITH & CRIMES, 1983 have been reported for the first time from Africa. They occur in lower Miocene deep-marine deposits near Tiaret northwestern Algeria. Morphological features of trace, coupled with spatial interrelationships between and echinoids documented this area, provide evidence that endemic spatangoid Echinocardium nummuliticum PÉRON GAUTHIER, 1885 represents tracemaker studied C. planus. is known upper Jurassic to Pleistocene it has a wide geographic environmental distribution.