New ethological classes offer a deeper understanding of fossilized behaviors. From aestivation and pupation to predation traps, these additions refine trace fossil classification and highlight the complexity of organism–sediment interactions. ...

Trace fossil classification explores how scientists group trace fossils by their form, function, and origin. It examines key approaches—taxonomic, ethologic, and toponomic—and highlights why no single system fully captures the diversity of trace-making behaviors. ...