Vertebrate Ichnopathology: Pathologies Inferred from Dinosaur Tracks and Trackways from the Mesozoic

Autor: Brent H. Breithaupt, Neffra A. Matthews, S. George Pemberton, Lida Xing, James O. Farlow, Darren H. Tanke, Lisa G. Buckley, Richard T. McCrea, Martin G. Lockley, Charles W. Helm
Rok vydání: 2015
Předmět:
Zdroj: Ichnos. 22:235-260
ISSN: 1563-5236
1042-0940
DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2015.1064408
Popis: Literature concerning dinosaur footprints or trackways exhibiting abnormal gait or morphology reflecting pathology (ichnopathology) is rare. We report on a number of Jurassic and Cretaceous occurrences of theropod footprints from western North America with unusual morphologies interpreted herein as examples of inferred pathologies, or ichnopathologies. The majority of ichnopathologies are primarily manifested in the digit impressions and include examples of swelling, extreme curvature, dislocation or fracture, and amputation. A number of occurrences are single tracks on ex situ blocks with substantial deformation (inferred dislocation or fracture), or absence of a single digit impression. Two occurrences are from in situ natural mould trackways, one of which is a lengthy trackway of a presumed allosauroid with no noticeable deformation of the digits or feet but with strong inward rotation of the left footprint toward the midline and a pronounced, waddling limp. The other is a tyrannosaurid trackway consis...
Databáze: OpenAIRE