A new dinosaur tracksite was discovered in a steeply inclined sandstone layer of the Middle Jurassic Sanjianfang Formation in the Shanshan area of the Turpan Basin. The site is the first record of dinosaur footprints ...A new dinosaur tracksite was discovered in a steeply inclined sandstone layer of the Middle Jurassic Sanjianfang Formation in the Shanshan area of the Turpan Basin. The site is the first record of dinosaur footprints from Xinjiang Province in northwestern China. More than 150 tridactyl theropod dinosaur footprints are preserved as positive hyporeliefs on the lower bedding plane of a fine-grained sandstone body. Most of the footprints are isolated and appear to be randomly distributed. Some show well defined phalangeal pads, heels and rarely indistinct impressions of the distal part of the metatarsus. Two distinct morphotypes are present: a larger type with relatively broad pads shows similarities to Changpeipus and Megalosauripus, and a slightly smaller, slender and gracile type which is similar to Grallator, Eubrontes and Anchisauripus. In both morphotypes, digit III is the longest with a length between 11.4 and 33.6 cm. A single imprint shows prominent scratches, probably formed during slipping of the track maker.展开更多
A large track site with multiple, well-preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus-like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhar...A large track site with multiple, well-preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus-like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum. The tracks occur in a clastic fluvial sequence in the Fuxian Formation in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province, which is in the same general region as the discovery site of Sinoichnites, the first dinosaur track reported from China. Based on size and morphology, it is likely that Sinoichnites, which is now lost, also represents an ornithischian. The Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum trackways show two modes of preservation： the first representing deeper tracks, with sediment rims, results in Deltapodus-like tracks, with indistinct pes digit traces and sub-circular manus traces, the second produces Moyenosauripus-like tracks, with clear tridactyl and pentadactyl digit traces in the pes and manus respectively. Thus the Shenmu trackways play a key role in resolving globally significant ichnotaxonomic problems surrounding the nomenclature of Sinoichnites, Moyenosauripus, Deltapodus and other named （Ravatichnus） and unnamed trackways from Asia, Africa and Europe. In addition they shed important light on the paleogeographical and paleoecological distribution of quadrupedal ornithischians in the Early Mesozoic. The track site has been the focus of a major excavation to transfer the trackways from their original remote location to the new Shenmu Museum, in Shenmu City. Other tracksites in the area which reveal Anomoepus, Grallator and the Deltapodus morphotype, together with Shenmuichnus and plant fossil evidence, suggest an Early Jurassic age for the tracksite.展开更多
Republic of Korea(South Korea)is one of the richest and most exciting regions on earth for the study of vertebrate ichnology.Very unique vertebrate fossils include dinosaurs,bird tracks,pterosaurs were discovered from...Republic of Korea(South Korea)is one of the richest and most exciting regions on earth for the study of vertebrate ichnology.Very unique vertebrate fossils include dinosaurs,bird tracks,pterosaurs were discovered from more important sites.New finds of dinosaur skeletal remains have increased the number and diversity of known Korean dinosaur taxa.Other fossils including dinosaur tooth and skin impressions,pterosaur bonesand tooth,turtle bones and eggs,crocodile skull and tooth,lizard bone,wood fossils,and trace fossils.Many sites reveal the highest density of bird and dinosaur track levels anywhere in the world.In South Korea there is a comprehensive system of national and provincial parks as well as nearly 500 sites identified under national legislation as‘naturalmonuments',in which the Cretaceous sites are the most abundant,and the Mudeungsan National Geopark newly established was certificated as the UNESCO Global Geopark.展开更多
Tracks registration is influenced by the dynamic interplay between the pedal anatomy of the trackmaker,its behaviour,and the substrate conditions it interacts with.Differences in substrate conditions,especially those ...Tracks registration is influenced by the dynamic interplay between the pedal anatomy of the trackmaker,its behaviour,and the substrate conditions it interacts with.Differences in substrate conditions,especially those linked to grain size and moisture content,often result in the most dramatic variations in track morphology.In the upper Stormberg Group,main Karoo Basin of southern Africa,diverse trace fossils,primarily comprising Late Triassic—Early Jurassic dinosaur tracks,are preserved.Numerous studies have extensively documented individual ichnosites,investigating variations between sites over time,with recent studies suggesting that track abundance and anatomical fidelity increase up-stratigraphy.Despite the well-established link between substrate and track morphology,past studies have not specifically focused on substrate conditions,often emphasizing macro-sedimentary features instead.Here,we examine the micro-sedimentary features of track-bearing units in the upper Stormberg Group using petrographic techniques to better understand the palaeosubstrate and its effect on fossil track registration and preservation.The analysis revealed that very fine-grained sandstones and substrates modified by microbial activity tend to preserve tracks with greater abundance and/or higher anatomical fidelity.Furthermore,the prevalence of very fine-grained and microbially modified strata,and their associated track trends increases in younger stratigraphic units.Across the Triassic—Jurassic boundary in southern Africa,a boom in dinosaur track abundances is observed and credited to the proliferation of dinosaur populations during the Early Jurassic.Our findings,however,suggest that the observed local increase in track abundance(and anatomical fidelity)up-stratigraphy may be linked to substrate composition differences,which were ultimately controlled by large-scale changes in the palaeoenvironment from high-energy meandering fluvial to lower-energy aeolian-lacustrine settings in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic,respectively.These findings have implications for global macroevolutionary patterns,palaeo-geographical reconstructions,and biostratigraphic correlations in the early Mesozoic.展开更多
In recent years the Lower Cretaceous red beds of southwestern China have yielded more than 20 significant dinosaur-dominated tracksites. More than half occur in the Jiaguan Formation with the remainder in the Feitians...In recent years the Lower Cretaceous red beds of southwestern China have yielded more than 20 significant dinosaur-dominated tracksites. More than half occur in the Jiaguan Formation with the remainder in the Feitianshan and Xiaoba formations. Collectively these sites provide evidence of at least 13 distinct dinosaurian trackmaker morphotypes, in addition to two avian theropod(bird)morphotypes and pterosaur and turtle tracks. Together these total 17 morphotypes provide a data base of 479 potential trackmakers, probably representing the same number of individuals. Such an ichnological database provides a useful proxy paleoecological census of tetrapod communities in the area during the Early Cretaceous, and is especially significant given the complete absence or scarcity of skeletal remains reported from these formations.The composition of ichnofaunas in all three formations is heavily saurischian(theropod and sauropod) dominated with a high diversity of distinctive theropod morphotypes,mostly assignable to known ichnogenera. Moreover, ichnofaunal data from multiple sites are generally consistent between sites and an indication of the reliability and repeatability of track census data. Such regionally-widespread data are rapidly superseding the information available from the skeletal record in the corresponding area, and must therefore be considered of high paleontological value.展开更多
文摘A new dinosaur tracksite was discovered in a steeply inclined sandstone layer of the Middle Jurassic Sanjianfang Formation in the Shanshan area of the Turpan Basin. The site is the first record of dinosaur footprints from Xinjiang Province in northwestern China. More than 150 tridactyl theropod dinosaur footprints are preserved as positive hyporeliefs on the lower bedding plane of a fine-grained sandstone body. Most of the footprints are isolated and appear to be randomly distributed. Some show well defined phalangeal pads, heels and rarely indistinct impressions of the distal part of the metatarsus. Two distinct morphotypes are present: a larger type with relatively broad pads shows similarities to Changpeipus and Megalosauripus, and a slightly smaller, slender and gracile type which is similar to Grallator, Eubrontes and Anchisauripus. In both morphotypes, digit III is the longest with a length between 11.4 and 33.6 cm. A single imprint shows prominent scratches, probably formed during slipping of the track maker.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.40872005)
文摘A large track site with multiple, well-preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus-like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum. The tracks occur in a clastic fluvial sequence in the Fuxian Formation in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province, which is in the same general region as the discovery site of Sinoichnites, the first dinosaur track reported from China. Based on size and morphology, it is likely that Sinoichnites, which is now lost, also represents an ornithischian. The Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum trackways show two modes of preservation： the first representing deeper tracks, with sediment rims, results in Deltapodus-like tracks, with indistinct pes digit traces and sub-circular manus traces, the second produces Moyenosauripus-like tracks, with clear tridactyl and pentadactyl digit traces in the pes and manus respectively. Thus the Shenmu trackways play a key role in resolving globally significant ichnotaxonomic problems surrounding the nomenclature of Sinoichnites, Moyenosauripus, Deltapodus and other named （Ravatichnus） and unnamed trackways from Asia, Africa and Europe. In addition they shed important light on the paleogeographical and paleoecological distribution of quadrupedal ornithischians in the Early Mesozoic. The track site has been the focus of a major excavation to transfer the trackways from their original remote location to the new Shenmu Museum, in Shenmu City. Other tracksites in the area which reveal Anomoepus, Grallator and the Deltapodus morphotype, together with Shenmuichnus and plant fossil evidence, suggest an Early Jurassic age for the tracksite.
文摘Republic of Korea(South Korea)is one of the richest and most exciting regions on earth for the study of vertebrate ichnology.Very unique vertebrate fossils include dinosaurs,bird tracks,pterosaurs were discovered from more important sites.New finds of dinosaur skeletal remains have increased the number and diversity of known Korean dinosaur taxa.Other fossils including dinosaur tooth and skin impressions,pterosaur bonesand tooth,turtle bones and eggs,crocodile skull and tooth,lizard bone,wood fossils,and trace fossils.Many sites reveal the highest density of bird and dinosaur track levels anywhere in the world.In South Korea there is a comprehensive system of national and provincial parks as well as nearly 500 sites identified under national legislation as‘naturalmonuments',in which the Cretaceous sites are the most abundant,and the Mudeungsan National Geopark newly established was certificated as the UNESCO Global Geopark.
基金supported from research grants obtained by MA(as PI)from the UCT Research Development Grant(2021)by EMB(as PI)from the Competitive Programme for Rated Researchers(GU93544,113394,98906)+2 种基金the African Origins Platform(GU 93544,98825)and GENUS(DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciencesgrants 2015—2022),which are various programmes of the National Research Foundation(NRF)of South AfricaPostgraduate funding was received by LM from the UCT General Award(2022),Palaeontological Scientific Trust(PAST),Johannesburg,South Africa and Genus(DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences)。
文摘Tracks registration is influenced by the dynamic interplay between the pedal anatomy of the trackmaker,its behaviour,and the substrate conditions it interacts with.Differences in substrate conditions,especially those linked to grain size and moisture content,often result in the most dramatic variations in track morphology.In the upper Stormberg Group,main Karoo Basin of southern Africa,diverse trace fossils,primarily comprising Late Triassic—Early Jurassic dinosaur tracks,are preserved.Numerous studies have extensively documented individual ichnosites,investigating variations between sites over time,with recent studies suggesting that track abundance and anatomical fidelity increase up-stratigraphy.Despite the well-established link between substrate and track morphology,past studies have not specifically focused on substrate conditions,often emphasizing macro-sedimentary features instead.Here,we examine the micro-sedimentary features of track-bearing units in the upper Stormberg Group using petrographic techniques to better understand the palaeosubstrate and its effect on fossil track registration and preservation.The analysis revealed that very fine-grained sandstones and substrates modified by microbial activity tend to preserve tracks with greater abundance and/or higher anatomical fidelity.Furthermore,the prevalence of very fine-grained and microbially modified strata,and their associated track trends increases in younger stratigraphic units.Across the Triassic—Jurassic boundary in southern Africa,a boom in dinosaur track abundances is observed and credited to the proliferation of dinosaur populations during the Early Jurassic.Our findings,however,suggest that the observed local increase in track abundance(and anatomical fidelity)up-stratigraphy may be linked to substrate composition differences,which were ultimately controlled by large-scale changes in the palaeoenvironment from high-energy meandering fluvial to lower-energy aeolian-lacustrine settings in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic,respectively.These findings have implications for global macroevolutionary patterns,palaeo-geographical reconstructions,and biostratigraphic correlations in the early Mesozoic.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41790455,41772008)the National Geographic Society,USA(No.EC0768-15)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2652017215)the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy(Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences)(No.173127)
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB822000)a Special Project Grant of Chongqing People’s Government (QDBLR-2007-2015)the 2013 and 2015 Support Fund for Graduate Students’ Science and Technology Innovation from China University of Geosciences (Beijing), China (51223229)
文摘In recent years the Lower Cretaceous red beds of southwestern China have yielded more than 20 significant dinosaur-dominated tracksites. More than half occur in the Jiaguan Formation with the remainder in the Feitianshan and Xiaoba formations. Collectively these sites provide evidence of at least 13 distinct dinosaurian trackmaker morphotypes, in addition to two avian theropod(bird)morphotypes and pterosaur and turtle tracks. Together these total 17 morphotypes provide a data base of 479 potential trackmakers, probably representing the same number of individuals. Such an ichnological database provides a useful proxy paleoecological census of tetrapod communities in the area during the Early Cretaceous, and is especially significant given the complete absence or scarcity of skeletal remains reported from these formations.The composition of ichnofaunas in all three formations is heavily saurischian(theropod and sauropod) dominated with a high diversity of distinctive theropod morphotypes,mostly assignable to known ichnogenera. Moreover, ichnofaunal data from multiple sites are generally consistent between sites and an indication of the reliability and repeatability of track census data. Such regionally-widespread data are rapidly superseding the information available from the skeletal record in the corresponding area, and must therefore be considered of high paleontological value.
