Spårfossil

Spårfossil, also known as trace fossils, are geological records of biological activity, rather than the organisms themselves. They include a variety of structures left behind by ancient life forms, such as tracks, trails, burrows, borings, coprolites (fossilized feces), and gastroliths (stomach stones). Unlike body fossils which preserve the physical remains of an organism, trace fossils provide evidence of an organism's behavior, movement, feeding habits, and habitat.

The study of trace fossils, ichnology, is a specialized field within paleontology. By analyzing these traces, scientists can infer information about the environment in which the organism lived, its locomotion, and its interactions with other organisms and the substrate. For example, fossilized footprints can reveal how an animal walked, whether it was bipedal or quadrupedal, and even its speed. Burrows offer insights into nesting or feeding behaviors, while coprolites can indicate diet.

Trace fossils are found in a wide range of sedimentary rocks and can date back to the earliest forms of life on Earth. They are crucial for understanding the history of life and the evolution of behaviors, especially in cases where body fossils are rare or absent. The preservation of trace fossils depends on specific environmental conditions, typically rapid burial by sediment that protects the trace from erosion or destruction before it can lithify into rock.