New ornithopod footprints from the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation,Fukui, Japan: Ichnotaxonomical implications |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;2. Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA;3. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA;4. School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People''s Republic of China;5. Paleontological Institute, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, People''s Republic of China |
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| Abstract: | Two ichnogenus of “large-sized” ornithopods are found from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Kitadani Formation in central Japan. Caririchnium isp. is characterized by the longer pes print than its width with strong mesaxony. Amblydactylus isp. is characterized by the wider pes print than its length with weak mesaxony. In the northern hemisphere, Caririchnium-type footprints are known from the Berriasian–Cenomanian strata, whereas Amblydactylus-type footprints are known from the Barremian–Maastrichtian strata. It is consistent with the temporal and geographic distribution of non-hadrosauroid iguanodontians and basal hadrosauroids. It suggests that footprint length-width ratio and mesaxony are important factors to indicate trackmakers (basal iguanodontian or hadrosauroid). Two “large-sized” ornithopod ichnogenus from the Kitadani Formation is also consistent with two iguanodontians from same site. It indicates a high diversity of the Kitadani ichnofauna and its importance to elucidate the ecosystem of the Kitadani Formation. |
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| Keywords: | Ornithopod Footprints Caririchnium Amblydactylus Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation Japan |
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