Palaeoecological significance of the trace fossil Circulichnis Vyalov, 1971 from the Carboniferous of the Donets Basin, Ukraine

The ichnogenus Circulichnis Vyalov is a horizontal a ring- or ellipse-shaped burrow and/or locomotion trace of an unknown producer, most likely an annelid or a “worm”, preserved on the bedding plane. This ichnogenus is known over a wide age interval (Ediacaran–Oligocene). Circulichnis demonstrates a wide ecological range and has been found in continental (Mermia ichnofacies), shelf, and relatively deep-water (turbidites) deposits. It is commonly interpreted as a sediment feeding trace, but the peculiarities of its formation remain somewhat mysterious, as it is unclear how the tracemaker reached the sediment surface, as lateral branches of the ring-shaped traces are extremely rare and have only been observed by a few researchers. A rather large specimen of Circulichnis montanus Vyalov, 1971 with a preserved lateral branch was found in the Mospyne Formation (upper Bashkirian, Lower Pennsylvanian) of the Donets Basin. This discovery confirmed the assumption made by Alfred Uchman and Bruno Ratazzi regarding the peculiarities of formation of Circulichnis. According to these authors, a single ring-shaped Circulichnis indicates an attempt to forage at a specific level in the sediment, while the lateral branches of Circulichnis are part of a vertical shaft leading to another level within the sediment. The study of Circulichnis montanus from the Donets Basin has confirmed that at least variant C of the Circulichnis formation scheme proposed by Uchman and Ratazzi is correct, i.e. the lateral branch is a horizontal or subhorizontal part of a generally vertical shaft. However, it is important to note that the correctness of variants A and B of the Uchman and Ratazzi scheme cannot be excluded. To answer this question unequivocally, new finds of well-preserved Circulichnis are necessary.