Records of drill holes and repair scars on Rectithyris subdepressa (Brachiopoda) from the Maastrichtian Kallankurichchi Formation, India

In the post-Paleozoic communities, brachiopods are generally thought to be less attractive prey to predators than bivalves. However, recent studies have documented significant predation pressure on brachiopods throughout the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The present study is aimed to document predation pressure on the Maastrichtian Rectithyris subdepressa from the Kallankurichchi Formation of the Cauvery Basin, India. While drilling intensity is a direct measure, repair scar frequency measures failed, non-lethal attacks. A drilling intensity of 7% and repair scar intensity of 4% is observed in the present study. These results, along with the stereotype of predatory behavior, such as the preference of size and location of the attack, indicate that both drilling and durophagous predators preyed upon Rectithyris subdepressa and the attacks are not accidental by nature. Although both predatory drill holes and repair scars could be successfully identified, specific groups could not be identified as the predators responsible for these attacks. While previous studies suggested a comparatively lower predation pressure on brachiopods than sympatric bivalves, brachiopods are the only drilled taxa in the Kallankurichchi Formation. While bivalves are the most abundant component, the large size and thicker shell of the epifaunal bivalves may explain the absence of drilling predation on the bivalves