The early Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3) burrows from the Nagaur Sandstone, Marwar Supergroup, Rajasthan, India: palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological considerations

In the present study, six well-preserved burrow forming ichnogenera such as Planolites, Palaeophycus, Bergaueria, Monocraterion, Skolithos, and Treptichnus, previously recorded from the early Cambrian Nagaur Group, have been critically examined to understand the behavior adopted by the burrow makers. These burrows help understand the interaction of the organisms with the past ecosystems. Transformation of burrow system from simple to complex (three-dimensional) forms are also elucidated. Their occurrences and associated depositional environments are discussed. No trilobite body fossil is found in the assemblage. Therefore, recorded six ichnogenera from the Nagaur Sandstone belong to the early Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3). Their occurrence in the younger Phanerozoic successions and ranges are also discussed. Statistical analyses have been performed on the gathered dataset taking parameters of their occurrences and corresponding depositional settings which exhibit the trend of the diversity of these burrows and revealed a behavioral pattern of different burrow makers.