Early Jurassic basal sauropodomorpha dominated tracks from Guizhou,China: Morphology,ethology, and paleoenvironment |
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| Authors: | Lida Xing Martin G Lockley Dongjie Tang Hendrik Klein Guangzhao Peng Yong Ye Baoqiao Hao |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;2. School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;3. State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China;4. Dinosaur Trackers Research Group, CB 172, University of Colorado at Denver, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO, 80217-3364, USA;5. Saurierwelt Paläontologisches Museum, Alte Richt 7, D-92318, Neumarkt, Germany;6. Zigong Dinosaur Museum, Zigong 643013, China |
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| Abstract: | The newly discovered large (350 m2) Yantan dinosaur tracksite, in the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation of Guizhou Province, China, reveals at least 250 footprints of which ～97 can be resolved into trackways of sauropodomorphs. All the trackways are sub parallel likely indicating gregarious behavior. One theropod track (cf. Grallator) was recorded. The sauropodomorph tracks predominantly represent quadrupedal progression (Morphotype A), and footprint morphology is similar to the ichnospecies Liujianpusshunan, characterized by outward pes rotation. Three trackways indicate bipedal progression, and two of these (Morphotype B) indicate inward pes rotation, accompanied by elongate pes digit scratch marks. For the latter phenomenon three possible scenarios are discussed: (1) significant rotation changes accompanying changes in gait, (2) swimming behavior, (3) formation of undertracks.Sedimentological evidence indicates the tracks were made on a linguloid rippled, muddy, immature sandstone substrate characterized by significant differences in substrate consistency across the track-bearing surface. Microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) characterized by distinctive wrinkle marks indicate a stressed, probably semi-arid, paleoenvironment that was not conducive to habitation by invertebrate organisms. This is consistent with other evidence that Lower Jurassic sauropodomorph tracks are often associated with semi-arid paleoenvironments. |
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| Keywords: | Sauropodomorph tracks Ziliujing formation Lower Jurassic Guizhou Province |
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