Paleochnology studies trace fossils left by prehistoric animals, revealing information about their behavior and anatomy. Ichnology focuses on tracking behaviors like tracks, holes, and burrows. The study is challenging due to the preservation of trace fossils and the difficulty in determining which creature created them. Researchers draw inferences about how animals moved, behaved, and their soft tissue structures. Natural history museums display ichnofossils, and researchers compare historical animal tracks with modern tracks.
Paleochnology is a branch of paleontology that deals with trace fossils, the marks left by animals as they move, crawl and walk through their natural environment. The study of paleotechnology can reveal interesting information about how these animals lived, substantially expanding the body of knowledge about prehistoric creatures. Ichnofossils, as they’re called, can be found at many sites around the world, ranging in size from gigantic footprints to fossil holes that betray the journeys of tiny organisms through thick mud.
Ichnology is a field of biology that focuses on the behaviors of traces. Tracking behaviors are things like tracks, holes, tunnels, burrows, hair or feathers, and even feces. Researchers who study tracking behaviors use the information they gather to learn more about the creatures they study, sometimes making inferences from the tracks they find. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this branch of biology has begun to be utilized by interested paleontologists, resulting in an entirely new paleontological discipline.
The study of paleotechnology can be very challenging. Circumstances must be perfect to preserve trace fossils, and such fossils are easily damaged or destroyed. Even if a paleocnologist can find trace fossils, if there are no fossil remains associated with them, it can be difficult to determine which creature created the traces. Without knowing what made the tracks, they’re just so useful. Traces can also be very hard to make out in the fossil record, so people can walk over them accidentally for decades until someone takes a closer look.
By looking at ichnofossils, researchers can draw inferences about how the creatures moved, which can help them understand how the animals were put together and where their major muscle groups would have been. Paleochnology may also provide clues about behavior, showing researchers whether animals lived in groups, how they avoided predators, and how they herded or tracked prey. A paleotechnology researcher may be able to provide some insight into soft tissue structures, such as feathers or scales on feet that have left footprints.
Many natural history museums have ichnofossils on display, because visitors often enjoy a remarkable sight. There’s something quite compelling about looking at the footprints left by animals that have long since disappeared from the face of the Earth. Some researchers also benefit from comparing historical animal tracks and tracks with modern tracks, looking at all the ways the animals grew and changed.
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