1. a fossil footprint or trace of an animal's movement preserved in rock or sediment
Usage: paleontology; geology

Examples

• The paleontologist discovered an ichnolite in the sandstone layer that revealed the walking pattern of an ancient reptile.
• Ichnolites provide valuable evidence about how prehistoric creatures moved and behaved.
• The museum's collection includes several well-preserved ichnolites from the Mesozoic era.
• By studying ichnolites, scientists can learn about animal locomotion without finding the actual skeletal remains.
• The riverbed exposed numerous ichnolites that suggested a large herd had passed through millions of years ago.