Dinosaur tracks from Tang Dynasty Grottoes area in Sichuan Province, China

Lida  Xing; Martin G.  Lockley; Zheng Ren; Chang  Liu; W. Scott  Persons IV; Guangzhao Peng; Yong Ye; Shan Jiang

doi:10.37819/biosis.002.02.0103

Dinosaur tracks from Tang Dynasty Grottoes area in Sichuan Province, China

Lida Xing ,

Martin G. Lockley ,

Zheng Ren ,

Chang Liu ,

W. Scott Persons IV ,

Guangzhao Peng ,

Yong Ye ,

Shan Jiang ,

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Abstract

In recent years the number of track sites discovered and reported from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation, Sichuan Basin has increased steadily. Here we report on the 20^th and 21^st sites which are situated in unusual locations in a cave and on a steep bedding plane surface in association with Tang Dynasty grottoes. The ichnofauna is represented by two small assemblages which are both theropod-dominated. Due to sub-optimal preservation, the tracks are identified only as grallatorid and small and larger eubrontid, with Paracorpulentapus also tentatively recognized.

Keywords: Theropod tracks Grallatorid Eubrontid Paracorpulentapus

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References

Alexander R. (1976). Estimates of speeds of dinosaurs. Nature, 261, 129-130. https://doi.org/10.1038/261129a0
Chen, H.X. (2009). Research of Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate of Cretaceous in Ya'an Area of Western Sichuan Basin. Master Thesis (pp. 86). Chengdu: Chengdu University of Technology, China press.
Geng, Q. (2011). Tectonic sequence stratigraphy and lithofacies paleogeography of Cretaceous-Paleogene in Sichuan Basin of China. Journal of Chengdu University of Technology Science & Technology Edition, 38 (4), 394-401.
Gu, X.D., & Liu, X.H. (1997). Stratigraphy (Lithostratic) of Sichuan Province. Wuhan: China University of Geosciences Press; p. 417 in Chinese.
He, FL. (2010). Main problems and countermeasures on grotto and stature on cliff, Sichuan, China. Journal of Engineering Geology, 18(S1), 450-454.
Jiang, X.S., Pan, Z.X., &Fu, Q.P. (2000). The pattern of general atmospheric circulation in eastern Asia through Cretaceous. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci, 30, 587-591.
Leonardi, G., 1987. Glossary and manual of tetrapod footprint palaeoichnology. Departamento Nacional de Producão Mineral; p.75 in Brazil.
Li, R., Lockley, M.G., Matsukawa, M., Wang, K., & Liu, M. (2011). An unusual theropod track assemblage from the Cretaceous of the Zhucheng area, Shandong Province, China. Cretaceous Research, 32, 422-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2010.10.006
Liang, S.C. (2011). A History of Chinese Architecture (pp. 329). Beijing: SDX Joint Publishing.
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 (pp. 360). New York: Columbia University Press.
Lockley, M.G., Li, J.J., Li, R.H., Matsukawa, M., Harris, J.D.& Xing, L.D. (2013). A review of the tetrapod track record in China, with special reference to type ichnospecies: implications for ichnotaxonomy and paleobiology. Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition), 87(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.12026
Lockley, M.G., Xing, L.D., Kim, J.Y.& Matsukawa, M. (2014). Tracking Early Cretaceous Dinosaurs in China: a new database for comparison with ichnofaunal data from Korea, the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 113, 770-789. https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12308
National Administration of Cultural Heritage (2009). The atlases of Cultural Relics, China, Sichuan fascicule (pp.1854). Beijing Cultural Relics Publishing.
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
Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Geology aviation regional Geological Survey team (1976). Geological Map of the People's Republic of China, Xuyong Map Sheet 1:200000 (H-48-XXXIV).
Sullivan, R.M. (2006). A taxonomic review of the Pachycephalosauridae (Dinosauria: Ornithischia). New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 35, 347-365.
Thulborn, T., 1990. Dinosaur Tracks. London: Chapman & Hall.
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. (2016). Early Cretaceous dinosaur and other tetrapod tracks of southwestern China. Ningbo: Ningbo Publishing House.
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Zhang, J.P., Klein, H., Kim, J.Y., Persons, W.S.IV., Matsukawa, M., Yu, X.Q., Li, J.J., Chen, G.B.& Hu, Y. (2014). Upper Cretaceous dinosaur track assemblages and a new theropod ichnotaxon from Anhui Province, eastern China. Cretaceous Research, 49, 190–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2014.03.003
Xing, L.D., Zhang, J.P., Lockley, M.G., McCrea, R.T., Klein, H., Alcalá, L., Buckley, L.G., Burns, M.E., Kümmell, S.B.& He, Q. (2015). Hints of the early Jehol Biota: important dinosaur footprint assemblages from the Jurassic–Cretaceous Boundary Tuchengzi Formation in Beijing, China. PLOS ONE, 10(4): e0122715. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122715
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Klein, H., Zeng, R., Cai, S.F., Luo, X.C.& Li, C. (2018a). Theropod assemblages and a new ichnotaxon Gigandipus chiappei ichnosp. nov. from the Jiaguan Formation, Lower Cretaceous of Guizhou Province, China. Geoscience Frontiers, 9, 1745-1754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2017.12.012
Xing, L.D., Dai, H., Lockley, M.G., Romilio, A., Klein, H., Li, Z.D., Hu, X.F., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y.& Persons, W.S.IV. (2018b). Two new dinosaur tracksites from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Sichuan Basin, China: specific preservation and ichnotaxonomy. Historical Biology ,30:7, 976-984. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1326113
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.
Yu, C.& Wang, T. (2012). Cliff of Thousand Buddhas: Investigation Report of Ancient Cliff Statues in Jiajiang, Sichuan Province (pp.199). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.

How to Cite

Xing, L. ., Lockley, M. G. ., Ren, Z., Liu, C. ., Persons IV, W. S. ., Peng, G., … Jiang, S. (2021). Dinosaur tracks from Tang Dynasty Grottoes area in Sichuan Province, China. Biosis: Biological Systems, 2(2), 283–292. https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.002.02.0103

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Lida Xing

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Martin G. Lockley

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Zheng Ren

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Chang Liu

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W. Scott Persons IV

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Guangzhao Peng

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.002.02.0103

Published: 2021-06-22

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

[2] Chen, H.X. (2009). Research of Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate of Cretaceous in Ya'an Area of Western Sichuan Basin. Master Thesis (pp. 86). Chengdu: Chengdu University of Technology, China press.

[3] Geng, Q. (2011). Tectonic sequence stratigraphy and lithofacies paleogeography of Cretaceous-Paleogene in Sichuan Basin of China. Journal of Chengdu University of Technology Science & Technology Edition, 38 (4), 394-401.

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

[5] He, FL. (2010). Main problems and countermeasures on grotto and stature on cliff, Sichuan, China. Journal of Engineering Geology, 18(S1), 450-454.

[6] Jiang, X.S., Pan, Z.X., &Fu, Q.P. (2000). The pattern of general atmospheric circulation in eastern Asia through Cretaceous. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci, 30, 587-591.

[7] Leonardi, G., 1987. Glossary and manual of tetrapod footprint palaeoichnology. Departamento Nacional de Producão Mineral; p.75 in Brazil.

[8] Li, R., Lockley, M.G., Matsukawa, M., Wang, K., & Liu, M. (2011). An unusual theropod track assemblage from the Cretaceous of the Zhucheng area, Shandong Province, China. Cretaceous Research, 32, 422-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2010.10.006

[9] Liang, S.C. (2011). A History of Chinese Architecture (pp. 329). Beijing: SDX Joint Publishing.

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

[11] Lockley, M.G., & Hunt, A.P. (1995). Dinosaur tracks and other fossil footprints of the western United States (pp. 360). New York: Columbia University Press.

[12] Lockley, M.G., Li, J.J., Li, R.H., Matsukawa, M., Harris, J.D.& Xing, L.D. (2013). A review of the tetrapod track record in China, with special reference to type ichnospecies: implications for ichnotaxonomy and paleobiology. Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition), 87(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.12026

[13] Lockley, M.G., Xing, L.D., Kim, J.Y.& Matsukawa, M. (2014). Tracking Early Cretaceous Dinosaurs in China: a new database for comparison with ichnofaunal data from Korea, the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 113, 770-789. https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12308

[14] National Administration of Cultural Heritage (2009). The atlases of Cultural Relics, China, Sichuan fascicule (pp.1854). Beijing Cultural Relics Publishing.

[15] 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

[16] Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Geology aviation regional Geological Survey team (1976). Geological Map of the People's Republic of China, Xuyong Map Sheet 1:200000 (H-48-XXXIV).

[17] Sullivan, R.M. (2006). A taxonomic review of the Pachycephalosauridae (Dinosauria: Ornithischia). New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 35, 347-365.

[18] Thulborn, T., 1990. Dinosaur Tracks. London: Chapman & Hall.

[19] 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

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

[21] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Zhang, J.P., Klein, H., Kim, J.Y., Persons, W.S.IV., Matsukawa, M., Yu, X.Q., Li, J.J., Chen, G.B.& Hu, Y. (2014). Upper Cretaceous dinosaur track assemblages and a new theropod ichnotaxon from Anhui Province, eastern China. Cretaceous Research, 49, 190–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2014.03.003

[22] Xing, L.D., Zhang, J.P., Lockley, M.G., McCrea, R.T., Klein, H., Alcalá, L., Buckley, L.G., Burns, M.E., Kümmell, S.B.& He, Q. (2015). Hints of the early Jehol Biota: important dinosaur footprint assemblages from the Jurassic–Cretaceous Boundary Tuchengzi Formation in Beijing, China. PLOS ONE, 10(4): e0122715. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122715

[23] Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Klein, H., Zeng, R., Cai, S.F., Luo, X.C.& Li, C. (2018a). Theropod assemblages and a new ichnotaxon Gigandipus chiappei ichnosp. nov. from the Jiaguan Formation, Lower Cretaceous of Guizhou Province, China. Geoscience Frontiers, 9, 1745-1754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2017.12.012

[24] Xing, L.D., Dai, H., Lockley, M.G., Romilio, A., Klein, H., Li, Z.D., Hu, X.F., Peng, G.Z., Ye, Y.& Persons, W.S.IV. (2018b). Two new dinosaur tracksites from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Sichuan Basin, China: specific preservation and ichnotaxonomy. Historical Biology ,30:7, 976-984. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1326113

[25] 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.

[26] Yu, C.& Wang, T. (2012). Cliff of Thousand Buddhas: Investigation Report of Ancient Cliff Statues in Jiajiang, Sichuan Province (pp.199). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.