Fossils

See also antiquity; evolution

fossilism

the study of fossils. —fossilist, n.

ichnology

the branch of paleontology that studies fossil footprints. Also called ichnolithology. —ichnological, adj.

paleichthyology, palaeichthyology, paleoichthyology, palaeoichthyology

the study of fossil fish. —paleichthyologist, palaeichthyologist, paleoichthyologist, palaeoichthyologist, n. —paleichthyological, palaeichthyological, paleoichthyological, palaeoichthyological, adj.

paleobiology

the branch of paleontology that studies fossil plants and animals. —paleobiologist, palaeobiologist, n. —paleobiologic, palaeobiologic, paleobiological, palaeobiological, adj.

paleobotany

the branch of paleology that studies fossil plants, especially their origin, structure, and growth. —paleobotanist, palaeobotanist, n. —paleobotanic, palaeobotanic, paleobotanical, palaeobotanical, adj.

paleontology

1. the science of the forms of life existing in prior geologie periods from their fossilized remains.

2. an article on paleontology. —paleontologist. palaeontologist, n. —paleontologie, palaeontologic, paleontological, palaeontological, adj.

paleornithology, palaeornithology

the study of fossil birds. —paleornithologic, palaeornithologic, paleornithological, palaeornithological, adj.

paleozoology

the study of fossil animals. —paleozoologic, palaeozoologic, paleozoological, palaeozoological, adj.

phytolithology

Obsolete, the study of fossil plants.

pyrochromatography

a process for detecting traces of organic elements in fossils by using heat or fire.

scatology

the branch of paleontology that studies fossil excrement.