ichnology

[ik-nol-uh-jee]

noun

1. 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 produced them.

ichnology

/ ɪkˈnɒlədʒɪ, ˌɪknəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the study of trace fossils

Other Word Forms

• ichnological adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ichnology¹

First recorded in 1850–55; ichno- + -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of ichnology¹

C19: from Greek ikhnos footprint, track

Example Sentences

Martin is a geologist and paleontologist focused primarily on ichnology -- the study of traces of life such as tracks, burrows, nests and tooth marks.

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Hasiotis’ specialty is ichnology, the study of fossil traces made by ancient organisms.

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His collection is preserved in the Hitchcock Ichnological Museum of Amherst College, and a description of it was published in 1858 in his report to the Massachusetts legislature on the ichnology of New England.

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The collection at Amherst comprises most of the types described by Professor E. Hitchcock in his "Ichnology of New England," a work in two fully illustrated quarto volumes.

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The Chelichnus Duncani, however, described by Sir William Jardine in his magnificent work on the 'Ichnology of Annandale,' bears a great resemblance to the track of a Turtle.

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