The ichnotaxa Palaeophycus and Planolites: historical perspectives and recomendations

Planolites, although strictly a junior synonym of Palaeophycus, can be retained as a valid ichnotaxon on the basis of stability of nomenclature. As emended by Pemberton and Frey (1982) and consistently adopted by later authors, Planolites is diagnosed primarily on the basis that it is an unlined simple burrow, whereas Palaeophycus is a lined burrow. Other ichnotaxobases and ethological considerations are, without exception, subordinate to this directive.