[dinosaur] Tridactyl dinosaur footprint shape variability

Ben Creisler
[email protected]

A new paper:


Jens N. Lallensack,  Thomas Engler &  H. Jonas Barthel (2019)
Shape variability in tridactyl dinosaur footprints: the significance of
size and function.
Palaeontology (advances online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1111_pala.12449&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=WyxoL_UZH5aHEHYjfmKvv_BlNvv6GCX0D99GBtfjxgE&s=cYtxta_cCxzDXFJTwksYaM34vut_A_Y5Owma7ZsNNdg&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__onlinelibrary.wiley.com_doi_abs_10.1111_pala.12449&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=WyxoL_UZH5aHEHYjfmKvv_BlNvv6GCX0D99GBtfjxgE&s=LuRWoWTTVaTZmbSF2cdRy6vOOkDiUjdMDJ23ExKuOCw&e= 


Data archiving statement:
Data for this study are available in the Dryad Digital Repository:

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.5061_dryad.pn12533&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=WyxoL_UZH5aHEHYjfmKvv_BlNvv6GCX0D99GBtfjxgE&s=xIunmfae1BoUTZ9aMwVY3e1N_gIyONiijaEhjnGSOIE&e= 



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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