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Haplotichnus

Haplotichnus is an ichnogenus of invertebrate trace fossil that was erected by S.A. Miller in 1889. Buatois et al. (1998) proposed that Haplotichnus should be synonymized with Gordia because both exhibit a looping course with self-crossing. Other researchers, such as Wang et al. (2009), have maintained the distinction between the two ichnogenera because Haplotichnus has sharp bends, whereas those of Gordia are not sharp. Most recently, Getty and Bush (2016) synonymized Haplotichnus with Treptichnus due to the presence of bifurcating projections at the bends. Other features, such as the looping course of the trace, thought to distinguish Haplotichnus from Treptichnus, are actually seen in one of the syntypes of Treptichnus, further supporting Getty and Bush's (2016) synonymy.

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Article summary

Haplotichnus is an ichnogenus of invertebrate trace fossil that was erected by S.A. Miller in 1889. Buatois et al. (1998) proposed that Haplotichnus should be synonymized with Gordia because both exhibit a looping course with self-crossing. Other researchers, such as Wang et al. (2009), have maintained the distinction between the two ichnogenera because Haplotichnus has sharp bends, whereas those of Gordia are not sharp. Most recently, Getty and Bush (2016) synonymized Haplotichnus with Treptichnus due to the presence of bifurcating projections at the bends. Other features, such as the looping course of the trace, thought to distinguish Haplotichnus from Treptichnus, are actually seen in one of the syntypes of Treptichnus, further supporting Getty and Bush's (2016) synonymy.

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Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  3. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.