Taphonomy in Brazil: over 36 years of history and new insights
Abstract
This study presents a historical and quantitative overview of the development of taphonomic research in Brazil from its early milestones to recent trends. The analysis highlights key publications, academic theses, and institutional initiatives that have shaped the field since the late 1980s. A significant growth in scientific output is observed from 2011 onwards, culminating in a peak number of publications in 2024. Despite this progress, research remains concentrated in the Southern, Southeastern, and Northeastern regions, underscoring the need to expand investigations into the Central-West and Northern areas. The study also emphasizes the importance of revitalizing actualistic taphonomy, strengthening conservation paleobiology, and increasing research in paleobotany and micropaleontology. Moreover, integrating robust stratigraphic and geochronological frameworks is essential for advancing taphonomic studies and Brazilian paleontology more broadly. These findings provide a comprehensive perspective on the evolution, current status, and future directions of taphonomic research in Brazil.
Keywords: Brazilian paleontology, fossil assemblages, research history, biostratinomy, fossildiagenesis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Hermínio Ismael de Araújo-Júnior, Laís Alves-Silva, Ronaldo Araujo Leoni
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that no alterations are made and the original article is properly cited. The written permission of Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia must be obtained before any commercial use and/or adaptation of the article.
