A diverse, high-latitude ichnofauna from the Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formation, Alberta, Canada

Fanti, Federico; Bell, Phil R.; Sissons, Robin L.

doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2012.12.010

Cited by 33 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Reports of footprints attributable to tyrannosaurids are rare [1] and although footprints of tyrannosaurids occur in Mongolia [2], the western United States [1], [3], [4] and western Canada [5], [6], [7], [8], they were only known from single footprint occurrences. The lack of trackways attributable to tyrannosaurids left a conspicuous gap in locomotor and behavioral data for this group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A ‘Terror of Tyrannosaurs’: The First Trackways of Tyrannosaurids and Evidence of Gregariousness and Pathology in Tyrannosauridae

et al. 2014

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The skeletal record of tyrannosaurids is well-documented, whereas their footprint record is surprisingly sparse. There are only a few isolated footprints attributed to tyrannosaurids and, hitherto, no reported trackways. We report the world’s first trackways attributable to tyrannosaurids, and describe a new ichnotaxon attributable to tyrannosaurids. These trackways are from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian - Maastrichtian) of northeastern British Columbia, Canada. One trackway consists of three tridactyl footprints, and two adjacent trackways consist of two footprints each. All three trackways show animals bearing southeast within an 8.5 meter-wide corridor. Similarities in depth and preservation of the tyrannosaurid tracks indicate that these three trackways were made by track-makers walking concurrently in the same direction. These trackways add significantly to previous osteology-based hypotheses of locomotion and behavior in Tyrannosauridae by providing ichnologic support for gregariousness in tyrannosaurids, and the first record of the walking gait of tyrannosaurids.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A ‘Terror of Tyrannosaurs’: The First Trackways of Tyrannosaurids and Evidence of Gregariousness and Pathology in Tyrannosauridae

et al. 2014

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“…First, the accuracy of outline drawings is difficult to assess, and we could not always ascertain whether these drawings were produced using faithful recording techniques such as tracing on transparent foil, or if they were simply traced on vertical photographs, which would introduce perspective distortion as an additional source of error. Second, outline drawings are not objective and can differ considerably depending on the individual researcher (Falkingham 2016). This problem is due to the difficulties in defining the footprint margin (Falkingham 2016) and is therefore, in principle, not restricted to outlines but affects any measurement taken from a footprint.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape variability in tridactyl dinosaur footprints: the significance of size and function

2019

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The functional anatomy of the hindlimb of bipedal dinosaurs has been intensively studied. Yet, surprisingly little work has been done concerning functional adaptation of digits for terrestrial locomotion. While complete and articulated pes skeletons are scarce, pes shape is abundantly recorded by fossil footprints. We elucidate the significance of footprint shape and size for locomotion using a large sample (n = 303) of tridactyl dinosaur footprints from a broad range of geographical localities and time slots. Size and shape variation are characterized separately for theropods and ornithischians, the two principal trackmaker taxa. At smaller sizes, theropod footprints are best discriminated from ornithischian footprints by their smaller interdigital angle and larger projection of digit III; at larger sizes digital widths are effective discriminants. Ornithischian footprints increase in size from the Early Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous, a trend not observed in theropod footprints. Size and function are argued to be important determinants of footprint shape, and an attempt made to infer function from shape. Digit III projection and length‐to‐width ratio of the footprints are negatively correlated with size in both groups; digit impression width is positively correlated with size only in ornithischians. Digit III projection appears to be positively correlated with cursorial ability. Increased interdigital angles are associated with a decrease in digital width, possibly an adaptation for stability. Weak digit III projection and increased digital width are interpreted as adaptations for graviportality. Footprints yield great potential for the understanding of the functional morphology of dinosaur feet.

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“…This tyrannosaurid track is approximately the same length as another tyrannosaurid track (UALVP 53475) from the Grande Prairie area reported by Fanti et al (2013) which McCrea et al (2014b) estimated the trackmaker to be almost 20 years of age.…”

Section: Wapiti Formation (Campanian/maastrichtian) Nose Mountainmentioning

confidence: 54%

Vertebrate Ichnopathology: Pathologies Inferred from Dinosaur Tracks and Trackways from the Mesozoic

McCrea

Tanke

Buckley

et al. 2015

Ichnos

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Literature concerning dinosaur footprints or trackways exhibiting abnormal gait or morphology reflecting pathology (ichnopathology) is rare. We report on a number of Jurassic and Cretaceous occurrences of theropod footprints from western North America with unusual morphologies interpreted herein as examples of inferred pathologies, or ichnopathologies. The majority of ichnopathologies are primarily manifested in the digit impressions and include examples of swelling, extreme curvature, dislocation or fracture, and amputation. A number of occurrences are single tracks on ex situ blocks with substantial deformation (inferred dislocation or fracture), or absence of a single digit impression. Two occurrences are from in situ natural mould trackways, one of which is a lengthy trackway of a presumed allosauroid with no noticeable deformation of the digits or feet but with strong inward rotation of the left footprint toward the midline and a pronounced, waddling limp. The other is a tyrannosaurid trackway consisting of three footprints (one right, two left) with the two left prints exhibiting repetitive ichnopathology of a partially missing Digit II impression.Keywords Dinosaur tracks, Amputation, Antalgic gait, Compensated gait, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Ichnopathology, Laterality, Irregular gait, Limping gait, Shuffling gait, Waddling gait INTRODUCTIONOver the course of the past few decades, there has been a marked increase in the literature of pathology of dinosaurs (e.g., Tanke and Rothschild, 2002 and references therein). However, the literature on inferred pathology from dinosaur tracks and trackways (ichnopathology) has not seen a corresponding increase. Reports on ichnopathology in dinosaurs have been infrequent, with perhaps less than one paper published per decade since the beginning of modern studies of dinosaur traces in the early 19th century. It is possible that reports of ichnopathology have not kept pace with reports of pathologies on osteological specimens due to the various influences of track-bearing substrate, the behavior of the trackmaker, as well as a range of taphonomic factors that make such interpretations difficult. The sparse publication record of ichnopathology may also be a reflection of the cautious approach ichnologists employ when interpreting phenomena related to tracks.Even with a restrained approach toward footprint and trackway interpretation, some dinosaur tracks and trackways exhibit morphologies that have defied explanation by conventional behaviors of the trackmaker, or by the physical and dynamic qualities of the track surface, both pre-and post-burial.This article discusses previous reports of dinosaur ichnopathology with reinterpretations where such is warranted. Several recent and new reports of dinosaur ichnopathologies are described, from sites in the Jurassic of China and the Cretaceous of North America. A number of criteria are proposed that will aid in the interpretation of ichnopathologies

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A diverse, high-latitude ichnofauna from the Late Cretaceous Wapiti Formation, Alberta, Canada

Cited by 33 publications

References 56 publications

A ‘Terror of Tyrannosaurs’: The First Trackways of Tyrannosaurids and Evidence of Gregariousness and Pathology in Tyrannosauridae

A ‘Terror of Tyrannosaurs’: The First Trackways of Tyrannosaurids and Evidence of Gregariousness and Pathology in Tyrannosauridae

Shape variability in tridactyl dinosaur footprints: the significance of size and function

Vertebrate Ichnopathology: Pathologies Inferred from Dinosaur Tracks and Trackways from the Mesozoic

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