A new sauropodomorph ichnogenus from the Lower Jurassic of Sichuan,China fills a gap in the track record |
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Authors: | Lida Xing Martin G Lockley Jianping Zhang Hendrik Klein Daqing Li Tetsuto Miyashita |
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Institution: | 1. School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, Chinaxinglida@gmail.com;3. Dinosaur Trackers Research Group, University of Colorado at Denver, CB 172, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USA;4. School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;5. Saurierwelt Pal?ontologisches Museum, Alte Richt 7, D-92318, Neumarkt, Germany;6. Geological Museum of Gansu, Lanzhou 730040, China;7. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada |
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Abstract: | A dinosaur tracksite in the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation of Sichuan Province, China consists of a spectacular sub-vertical exposure, with multiple track-bearing levels and trackways showing parallel and bimodal orientations. Based on well-preserved material, the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, Liujianpus shunan ichnogen. nov. ichnosp. nov. is erected to accommodate distinctive sauropodomorph trackways occurring in this assemblage. Liujianpus has a unique combination of features, some relating to the early Jurassic basal sauropodomorph (prosauropod in traditional usage) ichnogenus Otozoum, others to the sauropod ichnogenus Brontopodus. Despite such a mix of basal sauropodomorph- and sauropod-like features, the trackmaker of Liujianpus is likely a basal sauropodomorph. This identification is consistent with the occurrence of basal sauropodomorph skeletons from geographically and chronologically close localities. The other distinct morphotype from the tracksite is linked to a sauropod trackmaker. As such, the ichnofauna consisting of two distinct foot morphotypes reflects the diversity of sauropodomorph dinosaurs in the Early Jurassic of Asia. |
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Keywords: | Sauropodomorph tracks Liujianpus Ziliujing Formation Lower Jurassic Sichuan Province China |
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