This plate from the lower Cambrian of Görlitz, Germany there are three hyolithids which belong to the species Lenalituus pusillus. As a special feature shows one of the hyolithes a branched microborings in the shell.
This trace fossil could best be compared with Microptychoites isp. Branched or dendritic microbores are mostly created by endolithic microorganisms. Or animals like Phoronids which they produce as residential burrows. Kobluk et al, 1978 describe a diversification of these kind trace fossils mainly from the middle Ordovician onwards. However, it should be noted that Poulsen, in 1967, already described a similar find from the Lower Cambrian of Bornholm that is also in the calcareous shell of a hyolith specimen. However, this was not assigned to an specific Ichniospecies.
Zhang & Pratt, 2008 describe comparable finds in phosphatic shell fossils from the Lower Cambrian (Qiongzhusian) of China. This preference of fossils in calcium phosphate conservation is likely resulted on the preparation of specimens for that study.
This fossil offered here is an extremely interesting and rare find from the early Cambrian of the Görlitz syncline in Germany.
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