Bioerosive traces in fossil penguin bones (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Eocene of Marambio/Seymour Island (West Antarctica)

We examined a set of penguin bones from different Eocene levels of the Submeseta Formation in Marambio/Seymour Island (James Ross Basin, Antarctic Peninsula) and found the bioerosive traces fossils presented here. Traces were assigned to ?Machichnus bohemicus, Machichnus indeterminate, Nihilichnus nihilicus, Centrichnidae indeterminate, and other ambiguous structures grouped into morphologic descriptive categories such as 'shallow pits with radial scratches', 'indeterminate tunnels', 'rounded to sub-rounded shallow holes', 'oval deep traces'. According to the possible interpretations of these trace fossils, the taphonomic history of the remains, although different in all the cases, would include the primary deposition in a marine environment, transportation and subaerial exposure.

Automated summary

Penguin bones from different levels in the Eocene Submeseta Formation on Marambio/Seymour Island in the Antarctic Peninsula were found to have bioerosive trace fossils. The traces were categorized into various morphological descriptions and interpreted as representing the taphonomic history of the remains.