Well-preserved theropod tracks from the Upper Cretaceous of Hwasun Cou
Huh, M., Paik, I. S., Lockley, M. G., Hwang, K. G., Kim, B. S and Kwak, S. K., 2006. Well-preserved theropod tracks from the Upper Cretaceous of Hwasun County, southwestern South Korea, and their paleobiological implications. Cretaceous research 27, p. 123-138.(SCI)
Well-preserved theropod tracks from the Upper Cretaceous of.pdf
Abstract
Abundant dinosaur fossils including footprints, eggs and nests, teeth, and bones have been found from the Cretaceous nonmarine deposits
of Korea. Among them, dinosaur tracks are the most distinctive, and some tracksites are among the most famous in the world. Approximately
1500 well-preserved dinosaur footprints, including more than 60 trackways, have been excavated from the Cretaceous Neungju
Group in a quarry in Seoyu-ri, Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Unlike other dinosaur fossil sites in South Korea, most of the
tracks found in the area belong to theropods, especially small-sized theropods. The tracks show significant variation in size, morphology,
and divarication. on the basis of morphology and size, the theropod tracks have been classified into three types. The first type is characterized
by its small size, wide divarication, and slender digits, which can be more closely compared to Magnoavipes. The second
type shows slightly thicker digits than the first one and narrow toe impressions and is similar to Ornithomimipus or Xiangxipus. The footprints
of the third type belong to large theropods and display distinct sharp claw impressions. The calculated body sizes of the dinosaurs
vary between small theropods with an estimated hip height of 68.4e194.5 cm, and large theropods with a maximum estimated hip height
of 260.9 cm. The variety of morphotypes and sizes of the footprints and the calculated body sizes indicate that different theropods with
various gaits inhabited in the study area during the Cretaceous. on the basis of the speed and gait analyses, it is inferred that the small
theropods in the area were trotting, while the large theropods were walking slowly. The fossil site also shows diverse gaits with unusual
walking patterns and postures in some tracks.
2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Cretaceous; Neungju Group; Theropod tracks; Gait habitude