The trace fossil Fucoides circinatus Brongniart, 1828, from its type area, Västergötland, Sweden

Abstract

Topotypical material of the trace fossil Fucoides circinatus Brongniart, 1828, from the Lower Cambrian of south-central Sweden, consists of vertically oriented spreite burrows. It follows that Fucoides circinatus should not, contrary to common practise, be used for burrows of Zoophycos type and is not a contending type species of Zoophycos Massalongo, 1855. Furthermore, Alectorurus Schimper, 1869, of which Fucoides circinatus is type species by monotypy, should not be included as a synonym of Zoophycos. The type species of Phycodes Richter, 1850, is P. circinatum Richter, 1853, which is distinct from its supposed synonym F. circinatus.