An ichnotaxon (plural ichnotaxa) is "a taxon based on the fossilized work of an organism", i.e. the non-human equivalent of an artifact. Ichnotaxa comes from the Greekίχνος, ichnos meaning track and ταξις, taxis meaning ordering.[1]
Ichnotaxa are names used to identify and distinguish morphologically distinctive ichnofossils, more commonly known as trace fossils. They are assigned genus and species ranks by ichnologists, much like organisms in Linnaean taxonomy. These are known as ichnogenera and ichnospecies, respectively. "Ichnogenus" and "ichnospecies" are commonly abbreviated as "igen." and "isp.". The binomial names of ichnospecies and their genera are to be written in italics.
Most researchers classify trace fossils only as far as the ichnogenus rank, based upon trace fossils that resemble each other in morphology but have subtle differences. Some authors have constructed detailed hierarchies up to ichnosuperclass, recognizing such fine detail as to identify ichnosuperorder and ichnoinfraclass, but such attempts are controversial.
Due to the chaotic nature of trace fossil classification, several ichnogenera hold names normally affiliated with animal body fossils or plant fossils. For example, many ichnogenera are named with the suffix -phycus due to misidentification as algae.[2]
Edward Hitchcock was the first to use the now common -ichnus suffix in 1858, with Cochlichnus.[2]
History
Due to trace fossils' history of being difficult to classify, there have been several attempts to enforce consistency in the naming of ichnotaxa.
^ abHäntzschel, Walter (1975). Moore, Raymond C. (ed.). Miscellanea: Supplement 1, Trace Fossils and Problematica. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Geological Society of America. ISBN9780813730271.
^Donovan, Stephen K., ed. (28 March 1994). The Palaeobiology of Trace Fossils. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN0-471-94843-8.
External links
Trace Fossils - Kansas University Catalogue of Ichnotaxa
March 04, 2023
ichnotaxon, ichnotaxon, plural, ichnotaxa, taxon, based, fossilized, work, organism, human, equivalent, artifact, ichnotaxa, comes, from, greek, ίχνος, ichnos, meaning, track, ταξις, taxis, meaning, ordering, ichnogenus, thalassinoides, burrow, fossil, produce. An ichnotaxon plural ichnotaxa is a taxon based on the fossilized work of an organism i e the non human equivalent of an artifact Ichnotaxa comes from the Greek ixnos ichnos meaning track and ta3is taxis meaning ordering 1 The ichnogenus Thalassinoides burrow fossil produced by crustaceans from the Middle Jurassic Makhtesh Qatan southern Israel Ichnotaxa are names used to identify and distinguish morphologically distinctive ichnofossils more commonly known as trace fossils They are assigned genus and species ranks by ichnologists much like organisms in Linnaean taxonomy These are known as ichnogenera and ichnospecies respectively Ichnogenus and ichnospecies are commonly abbreviated as igen and isp The binomial names of ichnospecies and their genera are to be written in italics Most researchers classify trace fossils only as far as the ichnogenus rank based upon trace fossils that resemble each other in morphology but have subtle differences Some authors have constructed detailed hierarchies up to ichnosuperclass recognizing such fine detail as to identify ichnosuperorder and ichnoinfraclass but such attempts are controversial Contents 1 Naming 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksNaming EditDue to the chaotic nature of trace fossil classification several ichnogenera hold names normally affiliated with animal body fossils or plant fossils For example many ichnogenera are named with the suffix phycus due to misidentification as algae 2 Edward Hitchcock was the first to use the now common ichnus suffix in 1858 with Cochlichnus 2 History EditDue to trace fossils history of being difficult to classify there have been several attempts to enforce consistency in the naming of ichnotaxa In 1961 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature ruled that most trace fossil taxa named after 1930 would be no longer available 3 needs update See also EditBird ichnology Trace fossil classification Glossary of scientific namingReferences Edit Definition of ichno at dictionary com a b Hantzschel Walter 1975 Moore Raymond C ed Miscellanea Supplement 1 Trace Fossils and Problematica Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Geological Society of America ISBN 9780813730271 Donovan Stephen K ed 28 March 1994 The Palaeobiology of Trace Fossils John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 0 471 94843 8 External links EditComments on the draft proposal to amend the Code with respect to trace fossils Trace Fossils Kansas University Catalogue of Ichnotaxa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ichnotaxon amp oldid 1138691903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
