- Paleozoology
Paleozoology, also spelled as palaeozoology (Greek: παλαιον, "paleon" = old and ζωον, "zoon" = animal), is the branch of
paleontology orpaleobiology dealing with the recovery and identification ofmulticellular animal remains fromgeological (or evenarcheological ) contexts, and the use of thesefossil s in the reconstruction ofprehistoric environments and ancient ecosystems.Definitive, macroscopic remains of these metazoans are found in the
fossil record from theEdiacaran period of theNeoproterozoic era onwards, although they do not become common until the LateDevonian period in the latter half of thePaleozoic era.Perhaps the best known
macrofossil s group is thedinosaur s. Other popularly known animal-derived macrofossils includetrilobite s,crustacean s,echinoderms ,brachiopod s,mollusk s,bony fish es,shark s,Vertebrate teeth, and shells of numerousinvertebrate groups. This is because hard organic parts, such as bones, teeth, and shells resist decay, and are the most commonly preserved and found animal fossils. Exclusively soft-bodied animals -- such asjellyfish ,flatworm s,nematode s, andinsect s -- are consequently rarely fossilized, as these groups do not produce hard organic parts.ee also
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History of invertebrate paleozoology
*Animalia , taxonomic kingdom of
*Fossil s
*Index fossil s -- a.k.a. guide fossils
*Invertebrate s
*Invertebrate paleontology covers most animal phyla
*Macrofossil s -- easily visible fossil evidence
*Metazoa -- animal kingdom
*Microfossil s -- microscopic fossil evidence
*Micropaleontology
*Paleobiology -- biology and paleontology
*Paleobotany
*Trace fossil s -- indirect evidence of prehistoric life
*Vertebrate s
*Vertebrate paleontology covers the subphylum Vertebrata
*Zoology
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