Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment

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dc.contributor.authorSciscio, Lara
dc.contributor.authorBordy, Emese M
dc.contributor.authorReid, Mhairi
dc.contributor.authorAbrahams, Miengah
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:11:27Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:11:27Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractFootprint morphology (e.g., outline shape, depth of impression) is one of the key diagnostic features used in the interpretation of ancient vertebrate tracks. Over 80 tridactyl tracks, confined to the same bedding surface in the Lower Jurassic Elliot Formation at Mafube (eastern Free State, South Africa), show large shape variability over the length of the study site. These morphological differences are considered here to be mainly due to variations in the substrate rheology as opposed to differences in the trackmaker’s foot anatomy, foot kinematics or recent weathering of the bedding surface. The sedimentary structures (e.g., desiccation cracks, ripple marks) preserved in association with and within some of the Mafube tracks suggest that the imprints were produced essentially contemporaneous and are true dinosaur tracks rather than undertracks or erosional remnants. They are therefore valuable not only for the interpretation of the ancient environment (i.e., seasonally dry river channels) but also for taxonomic assessments as some of them closely resemble the original anatomy of the trackmaker’s foot. The tracks are grouped, based on size, into two morphotypes that can be identified as Eubrontes -like and Grallator -like ichnogenera. The Mafube morphotypes are tentatively attributable to large and small tridactyl theropod trackmakers, possibly to Dracovenator and Coelophysis based on the following criteria: (a) lack of manus impressions indicative of obligate bipeds; (b) long, slender-digits that are asymmetrical and taper; (c) often end in a claw impression or point; and (d) the tracks that are longer than broad. To enable high-resolution preservation, curation and subsequent remote studying of the morphological variations of and the secondary features in the tracks, low viscosity silicone rubber was used to generate casts of the Mafube tracks.
dc.identifier.apacitationSciscio, L., Bordy, E. M., Reid, M., & Abrahams, M. (2016). Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment. <i>PeerJ</i>, 4(4), e2285 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34612en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSciscio, Lara, Emese M Bordy, Mhairi Reid, and Miengah Abrahams "Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment." <i>PeerJ</i> 4, 4. (2016): e2285 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34612en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSciscio, L., Bordy, E.M., Reid, M. & Abrahams, M. 2016. Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment. <i>PeerJ.</i> 4(4):e2285 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34612en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2167-8359
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Sciscio, Lara AU - Bordy, Emese M AU - Reid, Mhairi AU - Abrahams, Miengah AB - Footprint morphology (e.g., outline shape, depth of impression) is one of the key diagnostic features used in the interpretation of ancient vertebrate tracks. Over 80 tridactyl tracks, confined to the same bedding surface in the Lower Jurassic Elliot Formation at Mafube (eastern Free State, South Africa), show large shape variability over the length of the study site. These morphological differences are considered here to be mainly due to variations in the substrate rheology as opposed to differences in the trackmaker’s foot anatomy, foot kinematics or recent weathering of the bedding surface. The sedimentary structures (e.g., desiccation cracks, ripple marks) preserved in association with and within some of the Mafube tracks suggest that the imprints were produced essentially contemporaneous and are true dinosaur tracks rather than undertracks or erosional remnants. They are therefore valuable not only for the interpretation of the ancient environment (i.e., seasonally dry river channels) but also for taxonomic assessments as some of them closely resemble the original anatomy of the trackmaker’s foot. The tracks are grouped, based on size, into two morphotypes that can be identified as Eubrontes -like and Grallator -like ichnogenera. The Mafube morphotypes are tentatively attributable to large and small tridactyl theropod trackmakers, possibly to Dracovenator and Coelophysis based on the following criteria: (a) lack of manus impressions indicative of obligate bipeds; (b) long, slender-digits that are asymmetrical and taper; (c) often end in a claw impression or point; and (d) the tracks that are longer than broad. To enable high-resolution preservation, curation and subsequent remote studying of the morphological variations of and the secondary features in the tracks, low viscosity silicone rubber was used to generate casts of the Mafube tracks. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 4 J1 - PeerJ LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 2167-8359 T1 - Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment TI - Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34612 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34612
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSciscio L, Bordy EM, Reid M, Abrahams M. Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment. PeerJ. 2016;4(4):e2285 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34612.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourcePeerJ
dc.source.journalissue4
dc.source.journalvolume4
dc.source.paginatione2285 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2285
dc.subject.otherCasting
dc.subject.otherDinosaur tracks
dc.subject.otherEarly Jurassic
dc.subject.otherElliot formation
dc.subject.otherKaroo
dc.subject.otherLower Jurassic
dc.subject.otherTheropoda
dc.titleSedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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