Loxolenichnus taddei (Ruggiero et Raia, 2014)

Diagnosis: Subcircular holes of 0.74 to 3.7 mm in diameter. The hole is perpendicular to the shell outer surface, tangentially surrounded by a slightly abraded, subelliptical area, with diameters ranging from 4.2 to 33 mm.

Description: Subcircular hole on brachiopod valves (mainly on Terebratula) of 0.74 to 3.7 mm in diameter, surrounded by an elliptical area which is 4.2 to 33 mm in diameter. Holes run tangent to this area and perpendicular to the shell surface. They occur in the posterior part of the shell, close to the cardinal area. The holes usually occur before the cardinal teeth, on either sides of the umbo. Three of the studied specimens bear holes on both sides of the umbo (Fig. 3e). Holes mostly occur in the shell commissure, implying both valves. Out of our observations, only 5 specimens bear a hole affecting a single valve (Fig. 3f). We noted that in 3 different specimens there are 2 holes, very close to each other (Figs 3g-h). The affected brachiopod usually reacts to the hole produced by the capulid by overgrowth of the secondary shell layer around the hole (Fig. 3d). This may end up with the shell of the host resisting perforation. A smooth margin was in fact observed just 3 times. The present ichnospecies is limited to the Quaternary.