Ichnology

Ichnology

Ichnology is the branch of biology that deals with traces of organismal behavior. It is generally considered as a branch of paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology, paleoichnology, deals with trace fossils, while neoichnology is the study of modern traces. Parallels can often be drawn between modern traces and trace fossils, helping scientists to decode the possible behavior and anatomy of the trace-making organisms even if no body fossils can be found. An ichnologist is a scientist whose area of study and research is ichnology.

Ichnologic studies are based on the discovery and analysis of biogenic structures: features caused by living organisms. Thus, burrows, trackways, trails and borings are all examples of biogenic structures, but not casts or molds of dead shells or other bodily remains. To keep body and trace fossils nomenclatorially separate, ichnospecies are erected for trace fossils. Ichnotaxa are classified somewhat differently in zoological nomenclature than taxa based on body fossils (see trace fossil classification for more information).

Examples
*Late Cambrian trace fossils from intertidal settings include Protichnites and Climactichnites, amongst others.
*Mesozoic dinosaur footprints including ichnogenera such as Grallator, Atreipus and Anomoepus.

ee also

* Bird ichnology


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ichnology — Ich*nol o*gy, n. [Gr. i chnos a footstep + logy.] (Geol.) The branch of science which treats of fossil footprints. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ichnology — [ik näl′ə jē] n. [ ICHNO + LOGY] the scientific study of fossil footprints ichnological adj …   English World dictionary

  • ichnology — ichnological /ik nl oj i keuhl/, adj. /ik nol euh jee/, n. the branch of paleontology concerned with the study of fossilized tracks, trails, burrows, borings, or other trace fossils as evidence of the occurrence or behavior of the organisms that… …   Universalium

  • ichnology — noun /ɪkˈnɒlədʒɪ/ A branch of paleontology concerned with the study of trace fossils. It can be divided into paleoichnology and neoichnology. See Also: ichnogram, ichneumon …   Wiktionary

  • ichnology — science of fossilized footprints Sciences and Studies …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • ichnology — ich·nol·o·gy …   English syllables

  • ichnology — The study of fossilized footprints …   Grandiloquent dictionary

  • ichnology — /ɪkˈnɒlədʒi/ (say ik noluhjee) noun the study of plant and animal traces, either ancient traces (palaeoichnology) or modern traces (neoichnology), as in fossils, tracks, faeces, etc. {Greek ichnos footprint + o + logy} …  

  • ichnology —   n. geological study of fossil footprints.    ♦ ichnomancy, n. divination by footprints …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • ichnology — ikˈnäləjē noun ( es) Etymology: ichn + logy : the study of fossil footprints …   Useful english dictionary

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