March 3, 2026

First Evidence of Burrows of the Polychaete Lepidenteron lewesiensis (Mantell, 1822) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Upper Don Region

Key Points

Burrows from the polychaete Lepidenteron lewesiensis reveal important insights into marine ecosystems.
Notably, bone remains of bony fish were discovered within the burrows, highlighting ecological interactions.
Analysis of Upper Cretaceous sediments in the Voronezh Region facilitates understanding of ichnogenus distribution.
Findings may influence future studies on paleoecological frameworks and marine life evolution during the Cretaceous period.

Abstract

Burrows of the predatory polychaetes Lepidenteron lewesiensis (Mantell, 1822) are first discovered in the marine Upper Cretaceous (Upper Coniacian–Lower Santonian) of the Upper Don (Voronezh) Region. Bone remains and scales of bony fish belonging to Clupeocephala indet. were found in the burrows. The discovery of Lepidenteron lewesiensis burrows in the Voronezh Region expands the paleogeographic distribution of this ichnogenus and ichnospecies in the second half of the Cretaceous and supplements our understanding of the Late Cretaceous marine paleoecosystems of this region.

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First Evidence of Burrows of the Polychaete Lepidenteron lewesiensis (Mantell, 1822) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Upper Don Region

Key Points

Abstract

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