The Different Traditions of Invertebrate and Tetrapod Ichnology

Two distinct traditions exist in the study of ancient ichnofaunas, which may be termed the ethological (invertebrate ichnology) and the biotaxonomic (tetrapod ichnology). Consequently, there are two different kinds of ichnofacies, each peculiar to one tradition, and we term them ethoichnofacies (invertebrate ichnofacies) and biotaxonichnofacies (tetrapod ichnofacies). In the Paleozoic, the Chelichnus and Batrachichnus (named herein) biotaxonichnofacies encompass all Carboniferous-Permian tetrapod ichnofaunas. Nevertheless, the concept of tetrapod ethoichnofacies in the Paleozoic merits further development. Recognition of two tetrapod biotaxonichnofacies in the Paleozoic has important bearing on biochronologic and facies analysis. Buta, R. J., Rindsberg, A. K., and Kopaska-Merkel, D. C., eds., 2005, Pennsylvanian Footprints in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama. Alabama Paleontological Society Monograph no. 1.