The trace fossil Fucoides circinatus Brongniart, 1828, from its type area, Västergötland, Sweden

Topotypical material of the trace fossil Fucoides circinatus Brongniart, 1828, from the Lower Cambrian of south‐central Sweden, consists of vertically oriented spreite burrows. It follows that Fucoides circinatus should not, contrary to common practise, be used for burrows of Zoophycos type and is not a contending type species of Zoophycos Massalongo, 1855. Furthermore, Alectorurus Schimper, 1869, of which Fucoides circinatus is type species by monotypy, should not be included as a synonym of Zoophycos. The type species of Phycodes Richter, 1850, is P. circinatum Richter, 1853, which is distinct from its supposed synonym F. circinatus.