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→The Seilacherian System: regrettably, bold is needed here |
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[[Adolf Seilacher]] was the first to propose a broadly accepted [[ethology|ethological]] basis for trace fossil classification.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Seilacher |first=A. |year=1953 |title=Studien zur Paläontologie: 1. Über die Methoden der Palichnologie |journal=Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie |series=Abhandlungen |volume=96 |pages=421–452 |doi= }}</ref><ref name="Seilacher, A 1964">{{cite journal |last=Seilacher |first=A. |year=1964 |title=Sedimentological classification and nomenclature of trace fossils |journal=Sedimentology |volume=3 |issue= |pages=253–256 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-3091.1964.tb00464.x }}</ref> He recognized that most trace fossils are created by [[animal]]s in one of five main behavioural activities, and named them accordingly:
* '''''Cubichnia''''' are the traces of organisms left on the surface of a soft [[sediment]]. This behaviour may simply be resting as in the case of a [[starfish]], but might also evidence the hiding place of [[prey]], or even the ambush position of a [[predator]].
* '''''Domichnia''''' are dwelling structures that reflect the life positions of organisms, for example the subsurface [[burrow]]s or [[bioerosion|borings]] of [[suspension feeder]]s, and are perhaps the most common of the established ethological classes.
* ''[[Fodinichnia]]'' are feeding traces which are formed as a result of organisms disturbing the sediment in their search for food. They are normally created by [[deposit feeder]]s as they tunnel through soft sediments, usually producing a 3D structure.
* '''''Pascichnia''''' are a different type of feeding trace for which the trophic guild responsible are [[grazing|grazer]]s. They create 2D features as they scour the surface of a hard or soft [[Substrate (biology)|substrate]] in order to obtain [[nutriment]].
* '''''Repichnia''''' are locomotory tracks that show evidence of organisms moving from one station to another, usually in a near-straight to slightly curved line. Most of the very few traces to be verifiably assigned to a specific organism are in this category, such as various [[arthropod]] and [[vertebrate]] trackways.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Seilacher |first=A. |year=1967 |title=Bathymetry of trace fossils |journal=Marine Geology |volume=5 |issue= |pages=413–428 |doi=10.1016/0025-3227(67)90051-5 }}</ref>
===Other ethological classes===
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