Ichnea

Ichnea (plural: Ichneas or Ichnea) are fossilized footprints, tracks, or trackways. The term is primarily used to describe fossil footprints of uncertain origin, or when a more specific taxonomic identification of the trackmaker is not possible or desirable. It is a general term falling under the broader field of ichnology, the study of trace fossils.

In paleontology, the analysis of ichnea can provide valuable information about the behavior, gait, size, and distribution of ancient animals. This information can sometimes be difficult or impossible to obtain from skeletal remains alone. Ichnea can also reveal details about the environment in which the trackmakers lived, such as the type of substrate they walked on.

The study of ichnea involves careful documentation of their morphology, including measurements of their size, shape, and spacing. These measurements are then compared to those of known animal tracks to try and infer the type of animal that made them. However, the same animal can produce different types of tracks depending on the substrate and its speed of movement, adding complexity to the analysis.

The term "ichnea" can also refer to the study of footprints more broadly, even those not necessarily fossilized, though "ichnology" is the more common and preferred term for the overall study.