Lithographus

Lithographus (‘rock writing’^[2]) is a Carboniferous^[3] to Cretaceous^[1] trace fossil that has been found in North America, South America, Europe, and east Asia.^[1]

Lithographus Temporal range: Permian–Cretaceous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Trace fossil classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Subclass:	Pterygota
Ichnogenus:	Lithographus Hitchcock 1858
Ichnospecies
L. hieroglypichus Hitchcock 1858[1]

The ichnogenus is characterized by alternating groups of three tracks arranged in an arrow shape. These are interpreted as tracks of cockroaches, beetles, or similar insects.^[2][1] The tracks are likely produced on relatively dry surfaces where the insect's legs do not drag; on wetter sediments, a more continuous trackway is created that is sometimes assigned to Grammepus.^[4]