Skip to main content
Elsevier
View Cart

Vertebrate Ichnology

Tetrapod Tracks and Trackways

  • 1st Edition - November 30, 2024
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Spencer G Lucas, Adrian Hunt P, Hendrik Klein
  • Language: English

Vertebrate Ichnology: Introduction, History, Methodology and Devonian-Neogene Tetrapod Tracks is a complete review and analysis of vertebrate trace fossils, including how vertebrat… Read more

World Book Day celebration

Where learning shapes lives

Up to 25% off trusted resources that support research, study, and discovery.

Explore resources

Description

Vertebrate Ichnology: Introduction, History, Methodology and Devonian-Neogene Tetrapod Tracks is a complete review and analysis of vertebrate trace fossils, including how vertebrate trace fossils inform our understanding of major evolutionary events. It covers all aspects of the vertebrate trace fossil record including tetrapod footprints, fish traces and other trails, burrows, nests and more. Each record is reviewed by prominent experts with extensive illustrations and can be used as a tool to solve problems of vertebrate biochronology and biogeography. Megabiases in the record are identified, and trace fossils applied to analysis and the understanding of major events in the evolutionary history of vertebrates.

This is a useful daily reference for paleontologists and geologists; and teaching professors or other researchers working in trace fossils and related fields, including university and graduate students.

Key features

  • Fully covers all aspects of the vertebrate trace fossil record through review and analysis
  • Includes not only footprints, but all other kinds of vertebrate traces, bringing to the forefront relatively understudied vertebrate trace fossils
  • Written by the most active and informed experts on vertebrate trace fossils for an up-to-date and authoritative reference

Readership

Palaeontologists and geologists, teaching professors and other researchers working in trace fossils and related fields, including university and graduate students, Geological surveys, and sedimentologists

Table of contents

1. Introduction

Section 1. The ichnology of locomotion

2. Tetrapods
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements, preservation
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Paleozoic ichnotaxa and their producers

1. Devonian

2. Carboniferous

3. Permian
(e) Mesozoic ichnotaxa and their producers

1. Triassic

2. Jurassic

3. Cretaceous
(f) Cenozoic ichnotaxa and their producers

1. Paleogene/Neogene

3. Fish
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements

1. History of Study

2. Principal localities

3. Ichnotaxa

Section 2. The ichnology of consumption

4. Regurgitalites
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Ichnotaxa

5. Consumulites
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Ichnotaxa

6. Coprolites
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Ichnotaxa

7. Gastroliths
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Records

Section 3. The ichnology of habitation and reproduction

8. Vertebrate burrows
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Ichnotaxa

9. Nests
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Ichnotaxa

10. Ichnology of reproduction (e.g., tracks showing mating or display)
(a) Terminology, methods, measurements
(b) History of Study
(c) Principal localities
(d) Ichnotaxa

Section 4. Synthesis (analyzes the vertebrate trace fossil record, its strengths and weakness and application to understanding vertebrate evolutionary history)

11. Megabiases in the fossil record of vertebrate traces

12. Ichnofacies

13. Ichnology and biochronology

14. Ichnology and biogeography

15. Traces and major evolutionary events in vertebrate history

16. Prospectus and issues in vertebrate ichnology

Review quotes

"A book that presents a comprehensive review of vertebrate ichnology has been long overdue. This is that book, the first volume to present a comprehensive review and extensive analysis of vertebrate trace fossils. It covers all aspects of the vertebrate trace fossil record: tetrapod footprints, fish trails and imprints, dentalites, bromalites (regurgitalites, consumulites, coprolites and others…gastroliths, burrows, and much more....an extremely valuable and necessary handbook for anyone doing research on footprints and trackways of terrestrial vertebrates....The heart of the book is a survey of tetrapod footprint ichnotaxa, described in chapters by stratigraphic age....I think the greatest value of this book will be as a first stop for those wanting an entry into the literature about a particular ichnogenus....The book will also be useful to those making comparisons of footprints at new sites under study with previously named ichnotaxa."— James O. Farlow (Purdue University Fort Wayne), Peleontological Society, August 2025

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: December 12, 2024
  • Language: English

About the editors

SL

Spencer G Lucas

Spencer G. Lucas is a stratigrapher and paleontologist who has been Curator of Geology and Paleontology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) since 1988. Lucas’s research focuses on vertebrate body and trace fossils. Since 1992, he has been a major contributor to refinement of the Triassic timescale as a Voting Member of the IUGS Subcommission on Triassic Stratigraphy. He has undertaken extensive field research in the American West, Kazakstan, China, Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Lucas has published 7 books and edited or co-edited more than 70 volumes. He has published more than 1000 scientific articles and is or has been on numerous editorial boards. In 1991, he founded the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin and is its Chief Editor.
Affiliations and expertise
Stratigrapher and Paleontologist, New Mexico Museum of Natural History, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

AH

Adrian Hunt P

Adrian P. Hunt is a palaeontologist who has been Adjunct Curator of Paleontology at New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (New Mexico) since 2007 and Executive Director of the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum (Washington) since 2007. Previously, he was founder/curator of the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum (New Mexico) and Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. He is particularly interested in vertebrate trace fossils, ranging from coprolites to footprints, and he has published in this subject area for over 35 years, having published more than 700 articles, and written or edited six books.
Affiliations and expertise
Paleontologist, Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum, USA

HK

Hendrik Klein

Hendrik Klein is an independent researcher working at Saurierwelt Paläontologisches Museum, Germany. His main research fields are vertebrate paleontology and ichnology. He is a member of the editorial boards of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin and the Ichnos journal. Present research projects and work include Tetrapod ichnology and ichnostratigraphy of the Triassic; ichnology and paleoecology of Paleozoic-Mesozoic strata in Morocco with Technical University, Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany and Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco; and Mesozoic tetrapod ichnology of China with Lida Xing and Martin Lockley.
Affiliations and expertise
Independent Researcher, Saurierwelt Palaontologisches Museum, Germany

View book on ScienceDirect

Read Vertebrate Ichnology on ScienceDirect