Glossary I
Ichno-
A prefix meaning \"footprint\" or \"track\"
Ichnofauna
The general array of evidence of fossilized animal tracks and other such activity in an area.
Ichnofossil
A fossilized mark or remnant formed in soft sediment by the movement of an animal; e.g., a footprint.
Ichnogenus
A genus identified on the basis of evidence of footprints or other visible signs of activity.
Ichnology
The study of footprints and other marks preserved as fossil evidence of animal and plant activities. Also, Paleoichnology
Ichnorecord
The collective body of evidence provided by fossilized animal tracks and other such activity in an area.
Ichnospecies
A species identified on the basis of evidence of footprints or other vissible signs of activity.
Ichnotaxomony
The classification of organisms on the basis of evidence of tracks and other such movements.
Ichtyosaurs
Marine reptiles of the Mesozoic Era. These were the most highly specialised of swimming reptiles with streamlined, fish-shaped bodies.
Ilium
The dorsal bone of the pelvic girdle (hip girdle) n., abbrev. il. Top hip bone to which the sacral vertebrae attach
Impact melt
Rocks melted during impact, including small particles dispersed in various impact deposits and ejecta, and larger pools and sheets of melt that coalesce in low areas within the crater. Impact melts are extremely uniform in their composition but highly variable in texture. They are composed predominantly of the target rocks but may contain a small but measurable amount of the impactor.
In situ
Latin for \"in place\" in the original site; e.g., a fossil found in situ is regarded as being located at the site of the death of the organism, as opposed to another site to which it may have been moved by some subsequent force or activity.
Index fossil
A distinct, identifiable organism that is abundant and widespread in fossilized form, but that is confined to a particular span of geologic time and thus can be utilized to geologically date the rocks in which it occurs.
Inferior temporal fenestra
Lower temporal fenestra in diapsids
Infraorder
A category smaller than Suborder but bigger than Family; used in the classification of animals.
Ingroup
In a study of a group of organisms (taxa), usually presumed to have a single common ancestor, the particular group that is under study, in comparison with other closely related groups (the outgroup or groups)
Inorganic
Not organic; not composed of living or formely living beings.
Insectivore / Insectivorous
An organism whose diet consists exclusively or mainly of insects. Thus, insectivorous
Integument
The skin and the structures associated with it, including nails, claws, hooves, scales and feathers The skin or covering of an organism or body part.
Integumentary
Relating to or composed of skin; involving or affecting the skin.
Intercalation
The presence of a body of rock interbedded or interlayered with another body of different rock.
Invertebrate
Any of those animals that do not have an internal skeleton or endoskeleton.
Iridium
A heavy metal element found in meteorites and the Earth\'s core.
Iron pyrites
\"Fools gold\" an iron-based mineral that occurs widely in all types of rocks.
Isotope
ne of a set of chemically indentical types of atom which differ in their weight and stability. Unstable isotpes are radioactive and \"decay\" to form more stable isotopes. Isotopes analysis is used in dating some type of rocks.
Ischium
The ventral bone of the pelvic girdle (hip girdle) n., abbrev. is.; rear hip bone
A prefix meaning \"footprint\" or \"track\"
Ichnofauna
The general array of evidence of fossilized animal tracks and other such activity in an area.
Ichnofossil
A fossilized mark or remnant formed in soft sediment by the movement of an animal; e.g., a footprint.
Ichnogenus
A genus identified on the basis of evidence of footprints or other visible signs of activity.
Ichnology
The study of footprints and other marks preserved as fossil evidence of animal and plant activities. Also, Paleoichnology
Ichnorecord
The collective body of evidence provided by fossilized animal tracks and other such activity in an area.
Ichnospecies
A species identified on the basis of evidence of footprints or other vissible signs of activity.
Ichnotaxomony
The classification of organisms on the basis of evidence of tracks and other such movements.
Ichtyosaurs
Marine reptiles of the Mesozoic Era. These were the most highly specialised of swimming reptiles with streamlined, fish-shaped bodies.
Ilium
The dorsal bone of the pelvic girdle (hip girdle) n., abbrev. il. Top hip bone to which the sacral vertebrae attach
Impact melt
Rocks melted during impact, including small particles dispersed in various impact deposits and ejecta, and larger pools and sheets of melt that coalesce in low areas within the crater. Impact melts are extremely uniform in their composition but highly variable in texture. They are composed predominantly of the target rocks but may contain a small but measurable amount of the impactor.
In situ
Latin for \"in place\" in the original site; e.g., a fossil found in situ is regarded as being located at the site of the death of the organism, as opposed to another site to which it may have been moved by some subsequent force or activity.
Index fossil
A distinct, identifiable organism that is abundant and widespread in fossilized form, but that is confined to a particular span of geologic time and thus can be utilized to geologically date the rocks in which it occurs.
Inferior temporal fenestra
Lower temporal fenestra in diapsids
Infraorder
A category smaller than Suborder but bigger than Family; used in the classification of animals.
Ingroup
In a study of a group of organisms (taxa), usually presumed to have a single common ancestor, the particular group that is under study, in comparison with other closely related groups (the outgroup or groups)
Inorganic
Not organic; not composed of living or formely living beings.
Insectivore / Insectivorous
An organism whose diet consists exclusively or mainly of insects. Thus, insectivorous
Integument
The skin and the structures associated with it, including nails, claws, hooves, scales and feathers The skin or covering of an organism or body part.
Integumentary
Relating to or composed of skin; involving or affecting the skin.
Intercalation
The presence of a body of rock interbedded or interlayered with another body of different rock.
Invertebrate
Any of those animals that do not have an internal skeleton or endoskeleton.
Iridium
A heavy metal element found in meteorites and the Earth\'s core.
Iron pyrites
\"Fools gold\" an iron-based mineral that occurs widely in all types of rocks.
Isotope
ne of a set of chemically indentical types of atom which differ in their weight and stability. Unstable isotpes are radioactive and \"decay\" to form more stable isotopes. Isotopes analysis is used in dating some type of rocks.
Ischium
The ventral bone of the pelvic girdle (hip girdle) n., abbrev. is.; rear hip bone