Ichnology is the branch of
geology and
biology that deals with traces of organismal behavior, such as burrows and footprints. It is generally considered as a branch of
paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology,
paleoichnology, deals with
trace fossils, while
neoichnology is the study of modern traces. Parallels can often be drawn between modern traces and trace fossils, helping scientists to decode the possible behavior and anatomy of the trace-making organisms even if no
body fossils can be found. An
ichnologist is a scientist whose area of study and research is ichnology.
