What is Trace fossil?
[[File:Cheirotherium prints possibly Ticinosuchus.JPG|thumb|Footprints in a [[Triassic]] sandstone, given the name ''Chirotherium'']] [[File:Climactichnites - Todd Gass.jpg|thumb|''Climactichnites'', probably trackways from a slug-like animal, from the [[Cambrian]], Blackberry Hill, central [[Wisconsin]]]] '''Trace fossils''' (or '''ichnofossils''') are [[Geology|geological]] records of biological activity.<ref>Seilacher A. 2007. ''Trace fossil analysis''. Springer-Verlag. {{ISBN|9783540472254}}</ref> They are [[fossils]], but not of the living things themselves. Probably the best-known examples are [[dinosaur trackway]]s. Trace fossils may be impressions made on the [[substrate]] by an organism. [[Burrow]]s, borings,<ref>Bromley R.G. 1970. Borings as trace fossils and ''Entobia cretacea'' Portlock as an example. In: Crimes T.P. and Harper J.C. (eds) Trace fossils. ''Geological Journal Special Issue 3'', 49-90.</ref> footprints, feeding marks, and root cavities are examples. The term includes the remains of other organic material produced by an organism {{ndash}} for example, [[coprolite]]s (fossilized droppings) or chemical markers. [[Stromatolites]] are [[sediment]] structures produced by [[bacteria]]. Trace fossils contrast with body [[fossil]]s, which are the fossilized remains of parts of organisms' bodies, usually altered by later chemical activity or [[mineralization]]. Structures which are not produced by the [[behaviour]] of an organism are not considered trace fossils. The study of traces is called [[ichnology]]. Traces reflect the behaviour, not usually not the biological affinity of their makers. They are given their own names in [[taxonomy]], based on their appearance and the implied behaviour of their makers. == Gallery == <gallery> RusophycusOrdovician.jpg|''Rusophycus'' trace fossil from the Ordovician of southern [[Ohio]]. [[Scale (ratio)|Scale bar]] is 10&nbsp;mm. Skolithos.jpg|''Skolithos'' trace fossil. Scale bar is 10&nbsp;mm. ThalassinoidesIsrael.JPG|''Thalassinoides'', burrows produced