ABSTRACT
We have inherited a set of names for trace fossils the most venerable of which originated in a series of misconceptions and misidentifications. Most early workers named trace fossils of invertebrates as remains of algae, sponges and other organisms, i.e. as either botanical or zoological body fossil taxa. More recently erected names have been based on more reasonable interpretations but, owing to the laws of priority, it is the oldest available names that are the basis of a taxonomy. Such ichnogeneric celebrities as Cruziana, Zoophycos and Chondrites were erected as algal taxa, Nereites as a worm.
