NAMING TRACE FOSSILS

A different approach to the naming of trace fossils is advocated. The primary ichnotaxobase should be the form of the burrow actually occupi ed, and the secondary ichnotaxobase should be the morphology of the st ructure that reflects the manner in which this burrow has been displac ed and/or extended. Only by attempting to name trace fossils in this w ay will it be possible to eliminate features due to sedimentological f actors that took place on termination of the animal's activities, incl uding passive infill and diagenesis. To discriminate between different preservational states the citation should include both the taxonomic and preservational aspects.