Morphological-structural analysis and topologic taxonomy on trace fossils

A new taxonomy on trace fossils considering both the morphological and structural features is suggested. From mathematical and paleobiological viewpoints, all trace fossils can be ordered into five classes of the hierarchy: topological ichnocategory, ichnofamily, ichnosubfamily, ichnogenus and ichnospecies. It is hoped that by means of this taxonomy, the effects such as tectonic deformation can no longer influence the fossils' morphological analysis and the configuration complexities within various trace fossils can also be compared to one another immediately. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49472086).