The First Discovery of Deinonychosaurian Tracks from Lower Cretaceous of Chabu, Otog Qi, Inner Mongolia and Its Significance

doi:10.13209/j.0479-8023.2016.099

Abstract

Abstract:

Thousands of footprint fossils have been discovered in the Lower Cretaceous of Chabu area in Otog Qi, Ordos city, Inner Mongolia, including theropod, sauropod and bird footprints as well. In 2014, a detailed survey was carried out around the Otog Field Museum of Geological Vestige (Tracksite: 8A and 8B) in Chabu area. Two functionally didactyl tracks attributed to deinonychosaurian theropods were firstly found. These two-toed tracks are assigned to Dromaeosauripus according a number of features. Two other theropod fossil footprints (Asianopodus robustus and Grallator) were found together with the two-toed tracks, which reflected the living habits of deinonychosaurs. The global record of didactyl theropod tracks (Dromaeopodidae) was enlarged by this discovery. It also helps to reveal the paleoecology of Chabu area and compare strata with other area.

Key words: dinosaur tracks, theropod, deinonychosauria, Chabu area, Early Cretaceous

摘要：

内蒙古查布地区下白垩统中保存大量的兽脚类和蜥脚类恐龙足迹以及鸟类足迹化石, 2014年再次对内蒙古鄂托克旗野外地质遗迹博物馆(8A 和 8B 化石点)周边的地层进行系统考察, 发现两个恐爪龙类恐龙(Deinonychosauria)的二趾型兽脚类足迹, 这在鄂托克地区是首次发现。经对比研究, 将其归入奔驰龙足迹属(Dromaeosauripus)。与奔驰龙足迹一起发现的还有其他两种兽脚类足迹(Asianopodus robustus和Grallator), 反映了恐爪龙类恐龙的生活习性。此类足迹的发现不仅填补了内蒙驰龙足迹(Dromaeopodidae)的空白, 增加了世界二趾型足迹的记录, 也为鄂托克地区古生态与地层对比提供了素材。

关键词: 恐龙足迹, 二趾型足迹, 恐爪龙, 查布, 早白垩世

CLC Number:

Baopeng WANG, Jianjun LI, Zhiqiang BAI, Jieqiong CHANG, Yongqiang ZHANG. The First Discovery of Deinonychosaurian Tracks from Lower Cretaceous of Chabu, Otog Qi, Inner Mongolia and Its Significance[J]. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 2017, 53(1): 81-90.

王宝鹏, 李建军, 白志强, 常洁琼, 张永强. 内蒙古鄂托克旗查布地区恐爪龙类足迹的发现及其意义[J]. 北京大学学报自然科学版, 2017, 53(1): 81-90.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Location of the study area and the distribution of track sites

Fig. 2 Two types of preservation of dinosaur tracks in Chabu area

Fig. 3 Comprehensive column of the footprints site

Fig. 4 Distribution of the footprints

Table 1 Measurements of the tracks from Chabu tracksite 15B

编号	长/cm	宽/cm		Ⅱ趾				Ⅲ趾				Ⅳ趾
编号	长/cm	宽/cm		长/cm		宽/cm		长/cm		宽/cm		长/cm		宽/cm
Chabu15B-1	15.0	10		-		-		3.8		3.5		4.0		3.2
Chabu15B-2	14.0	11		-		-		4.0		3.0		4.5		3.5
Chabu15B-3	?	?		?		4.5		?		6.5		?		?
Chabu15B-4	41.5	31		22		6.0		28		6.0		26		5.2
Chabu15B-5	14.5	7.2		?		?		?		?		?		?
编号	趾间角/(º)						复步长/cm		单步长/cm		步幅角/(º)		长宽比
编号	Ⅱ-Ⅲ		Ⅲ-Ⅳ		Ⅱ-Ⅳ		复步长/cm		单步长/cm		步幅角/(º)		长宽比
Chabu15B-1	-		?		-		?		?		?		1.5
Chabu15B-2	-		?		-		?		?		?		1.3
Chabu15B-3	?		?		?		?		102		?		?
Chabu15B-4	17		31		48		?		102		?		1.3
Chabu15B-5	?		?		?		?		?		?		2.0

Fig. 5 Photograph and outline drawing of the Chabu15B-1 footprint

Fig. 6 Photograph and outline drawing of the Chabu15B-2 footprint

Fig. 7 Comparison of Chabu didactyl tracks and Jishan didactyl tracks

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