Theropod footprints from the Lower Cretaceous Cangxi Formation in the Northern Margin of the Sichuan Basin, China

Lida  Xing; Martin G. Lockley; Bolin  Tong; Hendrik  Klein; W. Scott Persons IV; Guangzhao Peng; Yong Ye; Miaoyan Wang

doi:10.37819/biosis.002.01.0097

Theropod footprints from the Lower Cretaceous Cangxi Formation in the Northern Margin of the Sichuan Basin, China

Lida Xing

Martin G. Lockley

Bolin Tong

Hendrik Klein

W. Scott Persons IV

Guangzhao Peng

Yong Ye

Miaoyan Wang

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Abstract

A single well-preserved theropod trackway identified as Eubrontes was discovered in the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian-Valanginian) Cangxi Formation on the northern margin of the Sichuan Basin This is the first report of tracks from this formation. The occurrence is consistent with reports of theropod dominated ichnofaunas from broadly coeval deposits such as the Feitianshan Formation in southern parts of the basin. There is growing evidence that Eubrontes and Eubrontes-like tracks are common in the Lower Cretaceous of Sichuan Province.

Keywords: Theropod tracks Eubrontes Ichnofaunas

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References

Adams, T.L., Strganac, C., Polcyn, M.J., & Jacobs, L.L. (2010). High resolution three-dimensional laser-scanning of the type specimen of Eubrontes (?) glenrosensis Shuler, 1935, from the Comanchean (Lower Cretaceous) of Texas: Implications for digital archiving and preservation. Palaeontologia Electronica, 13(3), 11.
Alexander, R.M. (1976). Estimates of speeds of dinosaurs. Nature, 261, 129-130. https://doi.org/10.1038/261129a0
Brusatte, S.L., Benson, R.B.J., & Xu, X. (2012). A reassessment of Kelmayisaurus petrolicus, a large theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of China. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 57(1), 65-72. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.2010.0125
Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Sichuan Province. (1991). Regional Geology of Sichuan Province. Beijing: Geological Publishing House; p. 682 in Chinese.
Compiling Group of Continental Mesozoic Stratigraphy and Palaeontology in Sichuan Basin of China. (1982). Continental Mesozoic Stratigraphy and Palaeontology in Sichuan Basin of China. Chengdu: People's Publishing House of Sichuan; p. 151-163 in Chinese.
Dong, Z.M. (1973). Dinosaurs from Wuerho. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Memoir, 11, 45-52.
Farlow, J.O. (2001). Acrocanthosaurus and the maker of Comanchean largetheropod footprints. In Tanke D.H., & Carpenter K. (Eds.), Mesozoic Vertebrate Life (pp. 408-427). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Farlow, J.O., Langston, W., Deschner, E.E., Solis, R., Ward, W., Kirkland, B.L., Hovorka, S., Reece T.L., & Whitcraft, J. (2006). Texas Giants: Dinosaurs of the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country. Canyon Lake: Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country.
Gu, X.D. & Liu, X.H. (1997). Stratigraphy (Lithostratic) of Sichuan Province. Wuhan: China University of Geosciences Press; p. 417 in Chinese.
Hou, X.W., Shi, Z.J., Sun, Z.X., Tan, Z.Y., & Tian, X.S. (2020). The sporopollen assemblages in the Early Cretaceous red sediments in Cangxi area, northern Sichuan Basin and their geological significance. Geological Review, 66(3), 727-738. https://doi.org/10.16509/j.georeview.2020.03.014
Ishigaki, S., & Fujisaki, T. (1989). Three dimensional representation of Eubrontes by the method of moiré topography. In Gillette, D.D., & Lockley, M.G. (Eds). Dinosaur Tracks and Traces (pp. 421-425). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lallensack, J.N., Engler, T., & Barthel, H.J. (2020). Shape variability in tridactyl dinosaur footprints: the significance of size and function. Palaeontology, 63(2), 203-228. https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12449
Leonardi, G. (1987). Glossary and manual of tetrapod footprint palaeoichnology. Brazil: Departamento Nacional de Producao Mineral.
Lockley, M.G. (1991). Tracking dinosaurs-a new look at an ancient world. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lockley, M.G. (2009). New perspectives on morphological variation in tridactyl footprints: clues to widespread convergence in developmental dynamics. Geological Quarterly, 53, 415-432.
Lockley, M.G., & Hunt, A.P. (1995). Dinosaur tracks and other fossil footprints of the western United States. New York: Columbia University Press.
Lockley, M.G., Breithaupt, B. Matthews, N., Shibata, K., & Hunt-Foster, R. (2021). A preliminary report on an Early Jurassic Eubrontes-dominated tracksite in the Navajo formation at the Mail Station Dinosaur Tracksite, eastern Utah. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 82, 195-208.
Lockley, M.G., Li, R., Matsukawa, M., & Li, J. (2010). Tracking Chinese crocodilians: Kuangyuanpus, Laiyangpus and implications for naming crocodylian and crocodylian-like tracks and associated ichnofacies. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin, 51, 99-108.
Lucas, S. G. (2007). Tetrapod footprint biostratigraphy and biochronology. Ichnos, 14(1-2), 5-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/10420940601006792
Morales, M., & Bulkley, S. (1996). Paleoichnological evidence for a theropod dinosaur larger than Dilophosaurus in the Lower Jurassic Kayenta Formation. The Continental Jurassic. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin, 60, 143-145.
Olsen, P.E. (1980). Fossil great lakes of the Newark Supergroup in New Jersey. 52nd Annual Meeting in Newark, New Jersey, Paper No. 352-398.
Olsen, P.E., Smith, J.B., & McDonald, N.C. (1998). Type material of the type species of the classic theropod footprint genera Eubrontes, Anchisauripus and Grallator (Early Jurassic, Hartford and Deerfield Basins, Connecticut and Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18(3), 586-601. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1998.10011086
Peng, G.Z. (1995). A new protosuchian from the Late Jurassic of Sichuan, China. In Sun AL, & Wang YQ (Eds.), Sixth Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota, Short Papers (pp. 63-68). Beijing: China Ocean Press.
Peng, G.Z. (1996). A Late Jurassic protosuchian Sichuanosuchus huidongensis from Zigong, Sichuan Province. Vertebrata PalAsiatica, 34, 269-278.
Thulborn, T. (1990). Dinosaur Tracks. London: Chapman & Hall.
Wang, M.J., Chen, M.K., Guo, M.M., Zeng, L.K., & Ye, C.H. (1982). The age of the wall rocks in Sichuan Basin. Journal of Stratigraphy, 16(2), 92-100.
Weems, R.E. (1992). A re-evaluation of the taxonomy of Newark Supergroup saurischian dinosaur tracks, using extensive statistical data from a recentlyexposed tracksite near Culpeper Virginia. In Sweet P.C. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 26th Forum on the geology of industrial minerals. Virginia: Division of Mineral Resources; p. 113-127.
Wu, X.C., Sues, H.D., & Dong, Z.M. (1997). Sichuanosuchus shuhanensis, a new? Early Cretaceous protosuchian (Archosauria: Crocodyliformes) from Sichuan (China), and the monophyly of Protosuchia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 17, 89-103. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1997.10010956
Xing, L.D., Harris, J.D., Feng, X.Y., & Zhang, Z.J. (2009). Theropod (Dinosauria: Saurischia) tracks from Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at Sihetun, Liaoning Province, China and Possible Track Makers. Geological Bulletin of China, 28(6), 705-712.
Xing, L.D., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y., Lockley, M.G., McCrea, R.T., Currie, P.J., Zhang, J.P., & Burns, M.B. (2014). Large theropod trackway from the Lower Jurassic Zhenzhuchong Formation of Weiyuan County, Sichuan Province, China: Review, new observations and special preservation. Palaeoworld, 23, 285-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2014.10.010
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Zhang, J.P., Klein, H., Marty, D., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y., McCrea, R.T., Persons, W.S.IV., & Xu, T. (2015). The longest theropod trackway from East Asia, and a diverse sauropod–, theropod–, and ornithopod–track assemblage from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation, southwest China. Cretaceous Research, 56, 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2015.05.008
Xing, L.D., & Lockley, M.G. (2016). Early Cretaceous dinosaur and other tetrapod tracks of southwestern China. Science Bulletin, 61(13), 1044-1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-016-1093-z
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., & Zhang, J.P. (2016a). Early Cretaceous dinosaur and other tetrapod tracks of southwestern China. Ningbo: Ningbo Publishing House.
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Yang, G., Cao, J., McCrea, R.T., Klein, H., Zhang, J.P., Persons, W.S.IV., & Dai, H. (2016b). A diversified vertebrate ichnite fauna from the Feitianshan Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of southwestern Sichuan, China. Cretaceous Research, 57, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2015.08.005
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Wang, Y.D., Pole, M.S., Klein, H., Peng, G.Z., Xie, X.P., Zhang, G.Q., Deng, C.T., & Burns, M.E. (2017). New Middle Jurassic dinosaur track record from northeastern Sichuan Province, China. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 136(2), 359-364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13358-016-0123-4
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Klein, H., Zhang, L.J., Romilio, A., Persons, W.S.IV., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y., Wang, &M.Y., (in review). The new ichnotaxon Eubrontes nobitai ichnosp. nov. and other Saurischian tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Sichuan Province and a review of Chinese Eubrontes type tracks. Journal of Palaeogeography.
Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhang, K., Ma, Q., Xing, L., Sullivan, C., Hu, D., Cheng, S., & Wang, S. (2012). A gigantic feathered dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Nature, 484(7392), 92-95. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10906
Young, C.C. (1943). Note on some fossil footprints in China. Bulletin of the Geological Society of China, 13(3-4), 151-154.
Zhao, Y.Z., & Huang J.Q. (1931). The geological study of Qinling and Sichuan areas. Geological Reports, 9, 1-47.
Zhen, S.N., Li, J.J., Rao, C.G., Mateer, N.J., & Lockley, M.G. (1989). A review of dinosaur footprints in China. In Gillette D.D.& Lockley M.G. (Eds), Dinosaur Tracks and Traces (pp. 187-197). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Zhuang, Z.H., Tian, D.X., Ma, X.H., Ren ,X.F., Jiang, X.C., & Xu, S.J. (1988). A paleomgnetic study along the Yaan-Tianquan Cretaceous-Eogene section in Sichuan Basin. Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, 12(3), 224-228.
Zhang, Y., Tong, B.L., & Xing, L.D. (in press). The discovery of dinosaur footprints in Cretaceous strata from the northern margin of Sichuan Basin. Geological Bulletin of China.

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Xing, L. ., G. Lockley, M., Tong , B. ., Klein, H. ., Persons IV, W. S., Peng, G., … Wang, M. (2021). Theropod footprints from the Lower Cretaceous Cangxi Formation in the Northern Margin of the Sichuan Basin, China. Biosis: Biological Systems, 2(1), 174–182. https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.002.01.0097

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.002.01.0097

Published: 2021-03-22

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[1] Adams, T.L., Strganac, C., Polcyn, M.J., & Jacobs, L.L. (2010). High resolution three-dimensional laser-scanning of the type specimen of Eubrontes (?) glenrosensis Shuler, 1935, from the Comanchean (Lower Cretaceous) of Texas: Implications for digital archiving and preservation. Palaeontologia Electronica, 13(3), 11.

[2] Alexander, R.M. (1976). Estimates of speeds of dinosaurs. Nature, 261, 129-130. https://doi.org/10.1038/261129a0

[3] Brusatte, S.L., Benson, R.B.J., & Xu, X. (2012). A reassessment of Kelmayisaurus petrolicus, a large theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of China. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 57(1), 65-72. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.2010.0125

[4] Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Sichuan Province. (1991). Regional Geology of Sichuan Province. Beijing: Geological Publishing House; p. 682 in Chinese.

[5] Compiling Group of Continental Mesozoic Stratigraphy and Palaeontology in Sichuan Basin of China. (1982). Continental Mesozoic Stratigraphy and Palaeontology in Sichuan Basin of China. Chengdu: People's Publishing House of Sichuan; p. 151-163 in Chinese.

[6] Dong, Z.M. (1973). Dinosaurs from Wuerho. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Memoir, 11, 45-52.

[7] Farlow, J.O. (2001). Acrocanthosaurus and the maker of Comanchean largetheropod footprints. In Tanke D.H., & Carpenter K. (Eds.), Mesozoic Vertebrate Life (pp. 408-427). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

[8] Farlow, J.O., Langston, W., Deschner, E.E., Solis, R., Ward, W., Kirkland, B.L., Hovorka, S., Reece T.L., & Whitcraft, J. (2006). Texas Giants: Dinosaurs of the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country. Canyon Lake: Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country.

[9] Gu, X.D. & Liu, X.H. (1997). Stratigraphy (Lithostratic) of Sichuan Province. Wuhan: China University of Geosciences Press; p. 417 in Chinese.

[10] Hou, X.W., Shi, Z.J., Sun, Z.X., Tan, Z.Y., & Tian, X.S. (2020). The sporopollen assemblages in the Early Cretaceous red sediments in Cangxi area, northern Sichuan Basin and their geological significance. Geological Review, 66(3), 727-738. https://doi.org/10.16509/j.georeview.2020.03.014

[11] Ishigaki, S., & Fujisaki, T. (1989). Three dimensional representation of Eubrontes by the method of moiré topography. In Gillette, D.D., & Lockley, M.G. (Eds). Dinosaur Tracks and Traces (pp. 421-425). New York: Cambridge University Press.

[12] Lallensack, J.N., Engler, T., & Barthel, H.J. (2020). Shape variability in tridactyl dinosaur footprints: the significance of size and function. Palaeontology, 63(2), 203-228. https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12449

[13] Leonardi, G. (1987). Glossary and manual of tetrapod footprint palaeoichnology. Brazil: Departamento Nacional de Producao Mineral.

[14] Lockley, M.G. (1991). Tracking dinosaurs-a new look at an ancient world. New York: Cambridge University Press.

[15] Lockley, M.G. (2009). New perspectives on morphological variation in tridactyl footprints: clues to widespread convergence in developmental dynamics. Geological Quarterly, 53, 415-432.

[16] Lockley, M.G., & Hunt, A.P. (1995). Dinosaur tracks and other fossil footprints of the western United States. New York: Columbia University Press.

[17] Lockley, M.G., Breithaupt, B. Matthews, N., Shibata, K., & Hunt-Foster, R. (2021). A preliminary report on an Early Jurassic Eubrontes-dominated tracksite in the Navajo formation at the Mail Station Dinosaur Tracksite, eastern Utah. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 82, 195-208.

[18] Lockley, M.G., Li, R., Matsukawa, M., & Li, J. (2010). Tracking Chinese crocodilians: Kuangyuanpus, Laiyangpus and implications for naming crocodylian and crocodylian-like tracks and associated ichnofacies. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin, 51, 99-108.

[19] Lucas, S. G. (2007). Tetrapod footprint biostratigraphy and biochronology. Ichnos, 14(1-2), 5-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/10420940601006792

[20] Morales, M., & Bulkley, S. (1996). Paleoichnological evidence for a theropod dinosaur larger than Dilophosaurus in the Lower Jurassic Kayenta Formation. The Continental Jurassic. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin, 60, 143-145.

[21] Olsen, P.E. (1980). Fossil great lakes of the Newark Supergroup in New Jersey. 52nd Annual Meeting in Newark, New Jersey, Paper No. 352-398.

[22] Olsen, P.E., Smith, J.B., & McDonald, N.C. (1998). Type material of the type species of the classic theropod footprint genera Eubrontes, Anchisauripus and Grallator (Early Jurassic, Hartford and Deerfield Basins, Connecticut and Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18(3), 586-601. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1998.10011086

[23] Peng, G.Z. (1995). A new protosuchian from the Late Jurassic of Sichuan, China. In Sun AL, & Wang YQ (Eds.), Sixth Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota, Short Papers (pp. 63-68). Beijing: China Ocean Press.

[24] Peng, G.Z. (1996). A Late Jurassic protosuchian Sichuanosuchus huidongensis from Zigong, Sichuan Province. Vertebrata PalAsiatica, 34, 269-278.

[25] Thulborn, T. (1990). Dinosaur Tracks. London: Chapman & Hall.

[26] Wang, M.J., Chen, M.K., Guo, M.M., Zeng, L.K., & Ye, C.H. (1982). The age of the wall rocks in Sichuan Basin. Journal of Stratigraphy, 16(2), 92-100.

[27] Weems, R.E. (1992). A re-evaluation of the taxonomy of Newark Supergroup saurischian dinosaur tracks, using extensive statistical data from a recentlyexposed tracksite near Culpeper Virginia. In Sweet P.C. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 26th Forum on the geology of industrial minerals. Virginia: Division of Mineral Resources; p. 113-127.

[28] Wu, X.C., Sues, H.D., & Dong, Z.M. (1997). Sichuanosuchus shuhanensis, a new? Early Cretaceous protosuchian (Archosauria: Crocodyliformes) from Sichuan (China), and the monophyly of Protosuchia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 17, 89-103. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1997.10010956

[29] Xing, L.D., Harris, J.D., Feng, X.Y., & Zhang, Z.J. (2009). Theropod (Dinosauria: Saurischia) tracks from Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at Sihetun, Liaoning Province, China and Possible Track Makers. Geological Bulletin of China, 28(6), 705-712.

[30] Xing, L.D., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y., Lockley, M.G., McCrea, R.T., Currie, P.J., Zhang, J.P., & Burns, M.B. (2014). Large theropod trackway from the Lower Jurassic Zhenzhuchong Formation of Weiyuan County, Sichuan Province, China: Review, new observations and special preservation. Palaeoworld, 23, 285-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2014.10.010

[31] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Zhang, J.P., Klein, H., Marty, D., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y., McCrea, R.T., Persons, W.S.IV., & Xu, T. (2015). The longest theropod trackway from East Asia, and a diverse sauropod–, theropod–, and ornithopod–track assemblage from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation, southwest China. Cretaceous Research, 56, 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2015.05.008

[32] Xing, L.D., & Lockley, M.G. (2016). Early Cretaceous dinosaur and other tetrapod tracks of southwestern China. Science Bulletin, 61(13), 1044-1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-016-1093-z

[33] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., & Zhang, J.P. (2016a). Early Cretaceous dinosaur and other tetrapod tracks of southwestern China. Ningbo: Ningbo Publishing House.

[34] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Yang, G., Cao, J., McCrea, R.T., Klein, H., Zhang, J.P., Persons, W.S.IV., & Dai, H. (2016b). A diversified vertebrate ichnite fauna from the Feitianshan Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of southwestern Sichuan, China. Cretaceous Research, 57, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2015.08.005

[35] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Wang, Y.D., Pole, M.S., Klein, H., Peng, G.Z., Xie, X.P., Zhang, G.Q., Deng, C.T., & Burns, M.E. (2017). New Middle Jurassic dinosaur track record from northeastern Sichuan Province, China. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 136(2), 359-364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13358-016-0123-4

[36] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Klein, H., Zhang, L.J., Romilio, A., Persons, W.S.IV., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y., Wang, &M.Y., (in review). The new ichnotaxon Eubrontes nobitai ichnosp. nov. and other Saurischian tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Sichuan Province and a review of Chinese Eubrontes type tracks. Journal of Palaeogeography.

[37] Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhang, K., Ma, Q., Xing, L., Sullivan, C., Hu, D., Cheng, S., & Wang, S. (2012). A gigantic feathered dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Nature, 484(7392), 92-95. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10906

[38] Young, C.C. (1943). Note on some fossil footprints in China. Bulletin of the Geological Society of China, 13(3-4), 151-154.

[39] Zhao, Y.Z., & Huang J.Q. (1931). The geological study of Qinling and Sichuan areas. Geological Reports, 9, 1-47.

[40] Zhen, S.N., Li, J.J., Rao, C.G., Mateer, N.J., & Lockley, M.G. (1989). A review of dinosaur footprints in China. In Gillette D.D.& Lockley M.G. (Eds), Dinosaur Tracks and Traces (pp. 187-197). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[41] Zhuang, Z.H., Tian, D.X., Ma, X.H., Ren ,X.F., Jiang, X.C., & Xu, S.J. (1988). A paleomgnetic study along the Yaan-Tianquan Cretaceous-Eogene section in Sichuan Basin. Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, 12(3), 224-228.

[42] Zhang, Y., Tong, B.L., & Xing, L.D. (in press). The discovery of dinosaur footprints in Cretaceous strata from the northern margin of Sichuan Basin. Geological Bulletin of China.