Paleozoology 645125 213311794 2008-05-18T19:58:26Z DumZiBoT 6085301 robot Adding: [[ro:Paleozoologie]] {{zoology|Image:Priscacara-liops.jpg}} '''Paleozoology''', also spelled as '''palaeozoology''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''paleon'' = old and ''zoon'' = animal), is the branch of [[paleontology]] or [[paleobiology]] dealing with the recovery and identification of [[multicellular]] [[animal]] remains from [[geological]] (or even [[archeological]]) contexts, and the use of these [[fossil]]s in the reconstruction of [[prehistoric]] [[natural environment|environment]]s and [[paleoecology|ancient ecosystem]]s. Definitive, macroscopic remains of these [[Metazoa|metazoan]]s are found in the [[fossil record]] from the [[Ediacaran]] period of the [[Neoproterozoic]] era onwards, although they do not become common until the Late [[Devonian]] period in the latter half of the [[Paleozoic]] era. Perhaps the best known [[macrofossil]]s group is the [[dinosaur]]s. Other popularly known animal-derived macrofossils include [[trilobite]]s, [[crustacean]]s, [[echinoderms]], [[brachiopod]]s, [[mollusk]]s, [[bony fish]]es, [[shark]]s, [[Vertebrate]] [[Tooth|teeth]], and [[Animal shell|shell]]s of numerous [[invertebrate]] 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 organisms|soft-bodied animals]] -- such as [[jellyfish]], [[flatworm]]s, [[nematode]]s, and [[insect]]s -- are consequently rarely [[fossilization|fossilized]], as these groups do not produce hard organic parts. ==See also== *[[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]] [[Category:Subfields of paleontology]] [[Category:subfields of zoology]] [[Category:zoology|*]] [[Category:Animal identification]] {{paleo-stub}} {{animal-stub}} [[de:Paläozoologie]] [[el:Αρχαιοζωολογία]] [[es:Paleozoología]] [[eo:Paleozoologio]] [[fr:Paléozoologie]] [[it:Paleozoologia]] [[he:פליאוזואולוגיה]] [[ka:პალეოზოოლოგია]] [[lt:Paleozoologija]] [[nl:Paleozoölogie]] [[pl:Paleozoologia]] [[pt:Paleozoologia]] [[ro:Paleozoologie]] [[tet:Paleozoolojia]] [[uk:Палеозоологія]] [[ur:حیوانی حفریات]] [[zh:古动物学]]