Trace fossil

A trace fossil is a preserved record of an organism’s activity, such as a footprint, burrow, nest, or feeding mark, rather than its body.

Body fossil: A fossil consisting of an organism’s preserved remains or physical structure. It preserves the organism itself, unlike a trace fossil’s record of activity.
Bioturbation: The disturbance of sediment by living organisms through burrowing, feeding, or movement. Burrowing and feeding disturb sediment in ways that can later become trace fossils.
Ichnotaxon: A taxonomic name assigned to a distinctive fossil trace, classified by its form rather than its maker. Trace fossils are often named and compared as ichnotaxa when their makers are unknown.
Paleoethology: The study of the behavior of extinct organisms using fossil evidence. Trace patterns provide direct evidence for movement, feeding, and other ancient behaviors.
Ichnology: The scientific study of trace fossils and the behaviors they record. This field classifies and interprets the traces that define the concept.
Burrow: A tunnel or cavity excavated or occupied by an animal in sediment or rock. Burrows are common trace fossils when sediment fills and preserves them.
Dinosaur footprint: A fossilized impression left by a dinosaur’s foot in soft sediment. Footprints preserve movement and trackway patterns without preserving dinosaur bodies.
Paleoenvironment: The ancient environmental conditions in which rocks and fossils formed. Trace types and their arrangement can indicate the conditions organisms inhabited.
Fossilization: The processes by which remains or traces of past life become preserved in geological materials. Trace fossils form when activity traces survive burial and geological change.
Sediment deposition: The settling and accumulation of transported particles at Earth’s surface or underwater. Rapid deposition can cover and protect tracks or burrows before they are erased.

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