The tracks of giant theropods (<i>Jurabrontes curtedulensis</i>ichnogen. &amp; ichnosp. nov.) from the Late Jurassic of NW Switzerland: palaeoecological &amp; palaeogeographical implications

Marty, Daniel; Belvedere, Matteo; Razzolini, Novella L.; Lockley, Martin G.; Paratte, Géraldine; Cattin, Marielle; Lovis, Christel; Meyer, Christian A.

doi:10.1080/08912963.2017.1324438

Cited by 40 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…This 3-m long trackway consists of four consecutive tracks with a mean PL of 35 cm and a slightly-curved digit III. It is similar to the giant tracks of Highway A16 [98] with a PL of nearly 80 cm [105]. From the La Heutte II tracksite, [106] described a single large theropod track that is longer than wide, has narrow interdigital angles, claw marks and pad impressions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Megalosauripus transjuranicus ichnosp. nov. A new Late Jurassic theropod ichnotaxon from NW Switzerland and implications for tridactyl dinosaur ichnology and ichnotaxomy

et al. 2017

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A new ichnospecies of a large theropod dinosaur, Megalosauripus transjuranicus, is described from the Reuchenette Formation (Early–Late Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic) of NW Switzerland. It is based on very well-preserved and morphologically-distinct tracks (impressions) and several trackways, including different preservational types from different tracksites and horizons. All trackways were excavated along federal Highway A16 near Courtedoux (Canton Jura) and systematically documented in the field including orthophotos and laserscans. The best-preserved tracks were recovered and additional tracks were casted. Megalosauripus transjuranicus is characterized by tridactyl tracks with clear claw and digital pad impressions, and notably an exceptionally large and round first phalangeal pad on the fourth digit (PIV1) that is connected to digit IV and forms the round heel area. Due to this combination of features, M. transjuranicus clearly is of theropod (and not ornithopod) origin. M. transjuranicus is compared to other Megalosauripus tracks and similar ichnotaxa and other unassigned tracks from the Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. It is clearly different from other ichnogenera assigned to large theropods such as Eubrontes–Grallator from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic or Megalosauripus–Megalosauropus–Bueckeburgichnus and Therangospodus tracks from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. A second tridactyl morphotype (called Morphotype II) is different from Megalosauripus transjuranicus in being subsymmetric, longer than wide (sometimes almost as wide as long), with blunt toe impressions and no evidence for discrete phalangeal pad and claw marks. Some Morphotype II tracks are found in trackways that are assigned to M. transjuranicus, to M.? transjuranicus or M. cf. transjuranicus indicating that some Morphotype II tracks are intra-trackway preservational variants of a morphological continuum of Megalosauripus transjuranicus. On the other hand, several up to 40 steps long trackways very consistently present Morphotype II features (notably blunt digits) and do not exhibit any of the features that are typical for Megalosauripus (notably phalangeal pads). Therefore, it is not very likely that these tracks are preservational variants of Megalosauripus transjuranicus or Megalosauripus isp. These trackways are interpreted to have been left by an ornithopod dinosaur. The high frequency of large theropod tracks in tidal-flat deposits of the Jura carbonate platform, associated on single ichnoassemblages with minute to medium-sized tridactyl and tiny to large sauropod tracks has important implications for the dinosaur community and for paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical reconstructions. As with most other known occurrences of Megalosauripus tracks, M. transjuranicus is found in coastal settings, which may reflect the preference of their theropod trackmakers for expanded carbonate flats where food was abundant.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Megalosauripus transjuranicus ichnosp. nov. A new Late Jurassic theropod ichnotaxon from NW Switzerland and implications for tridactyl dinosaur ichnology and ichnotaxomy

et al. 2017

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“…22.2), Gallimimus (57%; Osmólska et al . 1972, plate L) and Struthiomimus (54%, Makovicky et al . 2004, fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6.5G), with at least Velocisaurus , Gallimimus and Struthiomimus having been interpreted as highly cursorial (Osmólska et al . 1972; Bonaparte ; Makovicky et al . 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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 age is also confirmed by the presence of ostracods (Schudack et al, 2013). More information on the sedimentology and palaeoenvironment of the Highway A16 tracksites can be found in Marty (2008), Jank et al (2006), Razzolini et al (2017) and Marty et al (2017).…”

Section: Geographical and Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…Among the tridactyl dinosaur tracks, recent papers have described giant theropod tracks (Jurabrontes curtedulensis, Marty et al, 2017) and large theropod tracks (Megalosauripus transjuranicus, Razzolini et al, 2017), but most of the tridactyl tracks by far are the still largely undescribed minute, small and medium-sized tracks (footprint length < 30 cm). Marty (2008) described minute and small tridactyl tracks from the Chevenez-Combe Ronde tracksite and tentatively attributed some of these to Carmelopodus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supplemental Information 2: Map of the Courtedoux—Béchat Bovais Tracksite, Level 500 (BEB500)

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Background. Minute to medium-sized (FL less than 30 cm) tridactyl dinosaur tracks are the most abundant in the Late Jurassic tracksites of Highway A16 (Reuchenette Formation, Kimmeridgian) in the Jura Mountains (NW Switzerland). During excavations, two morphotypes, one gracile and one robust, were identified in the field. Furthermore, two large-sized theropod ichnospecies (Megalosauripus transjuranicus and Jurabrontes curtedulensis) and an ornithopod-like morphotype (Morphotype II) have recently been described at these sites. Methods. The quality of preservation (preservation grade), the depth of the footprint, the shape variation and the footprint proportions (FL/FW ratio and mesaxony) along the trackways have been analysed using 3D models and false-colour depth maps in order to determine the exact number of morphotypes present in the tracksites. Results. The study of the footprints (n = 93) collected during the excavations has made it possible to identify and characterize the two morphotypes distinguished in the field. The gracile morphotype is mainly characterized by a high footprint length/width ratio, high mesaxony, low divarication angles and clear, sharp claw marks and phalangeal pads (2-3-4). By contrast, the robust morphotype is characterized by a lower footprint length/width ratio, weaker mesaxony, slightly higher divarication angles and clear, sharp claw marks (when preserved), whereas the phalangeal pads are not clearly preserved although they might be present. Discussion. The analysis does not allow the two morphotypes to be associated within a morphological continuum. Thus, they cannot be a consequence of extramorphological variations on similar tracks produced by a similar/single trackmaker. Comparison of the two morphotypes with the larger morphotypes described in the formation (Megalosauripus transjuranicus, Jurabrontes curtedulensis and Morphotype II) and the spatio-temporal relationships of the trackways suggest that the smaller morphotypes cannot reliably be considered small individuals of

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The tracks of giant theropods (Jurabrontes curtedulensisichnogen. & ichnosp. nov.) from the Late Jurassic of NW Switzerland: palaeoecological & palaeogeographical implications

Cited by 40 publications

References 108 publications

Megalosauripus transjuranicus ichnosp. nov. A new Late Jurassic theropod ichnotaxon from NW Switzerland and implications for tridactyl dinosaur ichnology and ichnotaxomy

Megalosauripus transjuranicus ichnosp. nov. A new Late Jurassic theropod ichnotaxon from NW Switzerland and implications for tridactyl dinosaur ichnology and ichnotaxomy

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

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