An Unusual, Three-Dimensionally Preserved, Large Hadrosauriform Pes Track from “Mid”-Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Chongqing, China
作者:
基金项目:

The authors thank Richard T. McCrea (Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre, British Columbia, Canada) for discussions, You Hailu (Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, China), Li Jianjun (Beijing Natural History Museum, Beijing, China) and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. This research was supported by the Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Chinese Academy Of Sciences (No. 2011LESV008) and Qijiang County Bureau of Land and Resources, Chongqing, China.


An Unusual, Three-Dimensionally Preserved, Large Hadrosauriform Pes Track from “Mid”-Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Chongqing, China
  • 摘要
  • | |
  • 访问统计
  • |
  • 参考文献
  • |
  • 相似文献
  • |
  • 引证文献
  • | |
  • 文章评论
    摘要:

    Three-dimensional tracks provide unique insights into the locomotor mechanics of their track makers. An isolated, large hadrosauriform print attributable to Caririchnium lotus from the “mid”-Cretaceous Lotus track site (Jiaguan Formation) in China permits reconstruction of the footfall, weight-bearing, and kick-off phases of the step cycle. Large-scale modifications of the pes during the step cycle indicate C. lotus trackmakers were capable of locomotory modifications in response to substrate consistency beyond the “expected” shift between bipedal and quadrupedal postures. An unusual curvature to the trace of one of the outer digits indicates substantial transverse mobility. The remaining digits demonstrate lesser degrees of transverse movement accompanied by extension of the digits during footfall. The absence of overprinted scale-scratch marks and toe drags are consistent with a vertical kick-off of the pes and concomitant flexion of the digits. This track suggests that pedal mobility in C. lotus track makers was greater than previously suspected and has implications for reconstructions of hadrosauriform locomotion.

    Abstract:

    Three-dimensional tracks provide unique insights into the locomotor mechanics of their track makers. An isolated, large hadrosauriform print attributable to Caririchnium lotus from the “mid”-Cretaceous Lotus track site (Jiaguan Formation) in China permits reconstruction of the footfall, weight-bearing, and kick-off phases of the step cycle. Large-scale modifications of the pes during the step cycle indicate C. lotus trackmakers were capable of locomotory modifications in response to substrate consistency beyond the “expected” shift between bipedal and quadrupedal postures. An unusual curvature to the trace of one of the outer digits indicates substantial transverse mobility. The remaining digits demonstrate lesser degrees of transverse movement accompanied by extension of the digits during footfall. The absence of overprinted scale-scratch marks and toe drags are consistent with a vertical kick-off of the pes and concomitant flexion of the digits. This track suggests that pedal mobility in C. lotus track makers was greater than previously suspected and has implications for reconstructions of hadrosauriform locomotion.

    参考文献
    相似文献
    引证文献
引用本文

Xing Lida, *, Phil R. Bell, Jerald D. Harris and Philip J. Currie.2012. An Unusual, Three-Dimensionally Preserved, Large Hadrosauriform Pes Track from “Mid”-Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Chongqing, China[J]. ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA(English edition),86(2):304~312

复制
分享
文章指标
  • 点击次数:
  • 下载次数:
  • HTML阅读次数:
  • 引用次数:
历史
  • 收稿日期:2011-10-17
  • 最后修改日期:2012-01-09
文章二维码