Trace Fossils

Trace fossils are evidence of action by living creatures. Examples include locomotion, feeding, nesting, excretions, etc. The division of paleontology that studies trace fossils is called “ichnology.”

Trace Fossil Photos

Acrothoracid barnacle holes in horn coral Zaphrentites spinulosa (Edwards & Haime)

TRACE FOSSILS                                    Period                                        Location               Preservation

Acrothoracid barnacle holes in coral Upper Mississippian                           KY                          C,2

Bored brachiopods (Inflatia)             Upper Mississippian       &nbs犀利士 p;                  KY                          C,1,2

Bored rugose corals                            Middle Devonian                               IN,KY                    S,1

Bored stromatoporoids                          ”           ”                                         IN,KY                    S,1

Catellocaulis vellata                           Upper Ordovician                                KY            C,1 (in bryozoan)

Chondrites sp.                                          ”           ”                                        KY                          C,1

Fish coprolite                                        Cretaceous                                       British Columbia    C,2

Sanctum laurentiensis                       Upper Ordovician                                KY               C,1 (in bryozoan)

Scalarituba missouriensis                  Middle Mississippian                          KY                   P,1 (3-D)

Unidentified 3-D tubular struct.        Middle Devonian                                IN                           S,1

Various feeding traces                        Middle Mississippian                        KY                       P,1 (3-D)

Various traces                                      Upper Ordovician                            KY                          C,2

Various traces                                      Upper Mississippian                        KY                          C,2