An unusual theropod track assemblage from the Cretaceous of the Zhucheng area, Shandong Province, China

作者：Li Rihui; Lockley Martin G^*; Matsukawa Masaki; Wang Kebai; Liu Mingwei

来源：Cretaceous Research, 2011, 32(4): 422-432.

DOI：10.1016/j.cretres.2010.10.006

• Theropods
• Footprints
• Cretaceous
• Zhucheng
• Shandong
• China

More than 125 footprints of theropods from the Cretaceous Longwangzhuang Formation have been mapped in a preliminary study at a site in the Zhucheng region of China. The tracks represent at least three morphotypes. The largest morphotype is a large theropod (footprint length similar to 30 cm) represented by a single trackway and an isolated natural cast. At least 10 trackways assigned to the new ichnospecies Corpulentapus lilasia represent a medium-sized biped (footprint length similar to 13 cm) with very short, wide, robust, 'tulip-shaped' tracks and long steps (similar to 5 x footprint length), and a short central digit (III) indicating weak mesaxony. Corpulentapus trackways are narrow and theropod-like even though track morphology is convergent with the footprints of some ornithopods. The third morphotype, made by a medium-sized grallatorid track maker (ichnogenus Paragrallator), is about the same size (similar to 13 cm) as the robust morphotype, but far more elongate and gracile, with an elongate central digit (III) indicating strong mesaxony. This ichnotaxon requires detailed comparison with Grallator sensu stricto. The contrast in morphology between the two common morphotypes is striking and demonstrates that two distinct medium-sized taxa of presumed theropod affinity frequented the same habitat in significant numbers.

• 出版日期2011-8
• 单位青岛海洋地质研究所