Paleozoology

Palaeozoology is the nature of science, the study of fossil animals is dedicated to, and as such a sub-discipline of paleontology. Subject of Palaeozoology are mostly animal fossils ausgestorbenener animal genus and species, but there are also modern animals that are found fossil (eg brachiopods Lingula or the coelacanth Latimeria ).

According to the research subject and the methods one usually distinguishes the Palaeozoology of invertebrate animals ( invertebrates ) of the vertebrate paleontology.

Many Invertebratenfossilien occur only in sedimentary rock layers of a certain age to frequently and can therefore be used for the relative temporal position of these rocks on the principles of biostratigraphy. You will then be referred to as index fossils.

One of the pioneer of Palaeozoology was, among others, Elisabeth Schmid.