paleoichnology en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek πᾰλαιός (pălaiós)der. English paleo- English ichnology English paleoichnology From paleo- + ichnology.
Meanings
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(uncountable) A branch of ichnology concerned with the study of trace fossils preserved in ancient rocks.
This field is called paleoichnology, which means the study (ology) of ancient (paleo) footprints (ichnos). Despite its name, there's more to paleoichnology than footprints.
2006, Richard L. Orndorff, Robert W. Wieder, David G. Futey, “Geology Underfoot in Southern Utah”, in Mountain, Press Publishing, page 12:Paleoichnology is their historic equivalent—the study of ichnological evidence of animals of the past.
2003, Jose Louis Sanz, Starring T. Rex! Dinosaur Mythology and Popular Culture, Indiana University Press, page 8:The evolutionary aspect of ecology which has started to develop due to studies of trace fossils will stay long the privilege of paleoichnology.
1984, Palaeontology: Proceedings of the 27th International Geological Congress: Invited Papers, Volume 2, International Geological Congress:The subjects of paleoichnology are trace fossils (also called ichnofossils), which are fossilized structures produced in substrates ranging from unlithified sediment to sedimentary rock or organic matter (including shell, bone, wood and peat) by the activity of organisms.
2017, Dirk Knaust, Atlas of Trace Fossils in Well Core, Springer, page 5:As far as I can discern for now, only a few of the lessons learned were readily applicable to mainstream neoichnology and paleoichnology, but no matter.
2004, Ichnology Newsletter, number 26, page 42:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| palaeoichnology | alternative | lexicographic |