Abstract
The ichnological assemblage from the Estancia Laguna Manantiales, from the Middle Jurassic La Matilde Formation, Santa Cruz province, Argentina, is exceptional both in diversity and abundance. It is composed of mammal, dinosaur, invertebrate, and root traces. The most significant and abundant specimens are those assigned to the ichnogenus Ameghinichnus Casamiquela, 1961. This ichnogenus is revised and an emendation of its diagnosis is suggested. The inclusion of all the known specimens to the type ichnospecies, Ameghinichnus patagonicus Casamiquela, 1961, is challenged and some specimens are placed in a new ichnospecies, Ameghinichnus manantialensis isp. nov. Similar tracks from other ichnological localities worldwide were previously referred to Ameghinichnus, but only Eopentapodiscus (Ellenberger, 1970), from South Africa is considered as a junior synonym of Ameghinichnus. The ichnotaxobases used to classify tracks with mammalian affinities at ichnogeneric and ichnospecific levels are evaluated and re-assessed ichnotaxonomic criteria are proposed. Different criteria used to distinguish mammalian imprints from non-mammalian tracks are commented.References
Abbassi, N. & Lockley, M.G. (2004) Eocene bird and mammal tracks from the Karaj Formation, Tarom Mountains, Northwestern Iran. Ichnos, 11, 349–356.
Abourachid, A. (2003) A new way of analysing symmetrical and asymmetrical gaits in quadrupeds. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 326, 625–630.
Andreis, R.R., Cúneo, R. & Zalba, P.E. (1992) Patagonia Field Trip Guide. 4 Reunión Argentina de Sedimentología. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, 37 pp.
Bertling, M., Braddy, S., Bromley, R.G., Demathieu, G.R., Genise, J., Mikuláš, R., Nielsen, J.K., Nielsen, K.S.S., Rindsberg, A.K., Schlirf, M. & Uchman, A. (2006) Names for trace fossils: a uniform approach. Lethaia, 39, 265–286.
Bonaparte, J.F. (1978) El Mesozoico de América del Sur y sus tetrápodos. Fundación Miguel Lillo, Opera Lilloana, 26, Tucumán, 596 pp.
Bonaparte, J.F. (1983) Jurassic tetrapods from South America and dispersal routes. In: Jacobs, L.L. (Ed.), Aspects of vertebrate history: Essay in honor of Edwin Harris Colbert. Museum of Northern Arizona Press, pp. 73–98.
Bromley, R.G. (1990) Trace fossils: Biology and Taphonomy. Special Topics in Paleontology 3, Unwin Hyman, London, 310 pp.
Casamiquela, R.M. (1960) El hallazgo del primer elenco (icnológico) jurásico de vertebrados terrestres de Latinoamérica (noticia). Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina, 15, 5–14.
Casamiquela, R.M. (1961) Sobre la presencia de un mamífero en el primer elenco (icnológico) de vertebrados del Jurásico de la Patagonia. Physis, 22, 225–233.
Casamiquela, R.M. (1964) Estudios icnológicos. Problemas y métodos de la icnología con aplicación al estudio de pisadas mesozoicas (Reptilia, Mammalia) de la Patagonia. Colegio Industrial Pío IX, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 229 pp.
Casamiquela, R.M. (1974) Sobre la significación de Ameghinichnus patagonicus, un mamífero brincador del Jurásico Medio de Santa Cruz (Patagonia). Actas I Congreso Argentino de Paleontología y Bioestratigrafía, Tucumán, II, 1974, pp. 71–85.
Casamiquela, R.M. (2002) Icnitas de vertebrados (Mamíferos, Dinosaurios) del Mesojurásico. In: Haller, M.J. (Ed.), Geología y Recursos Naturales de Santa Cruz, Relatorio del 15 Congreso Geológico Argentino, II, pp. 433–438.
Cladera, G., Andreis, R., Archangelsky, S. & Cúneo, R. (2002) Estratigrafía del Grupo Baqueró, Patagonia (provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina). Ameghiniana, 39, 3–20.
Coria, R.A. (1989) Primer registro icnológico de dinosaurio en el Jurásico Medio de la Argentina. Abstracts 6 Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de Vertebrados, San Juan, 1989, pp. 107–108.
Coria, R.A. & Paulina Carabajal, A. (2004) Nuevas huellas de Theropoda (Dinosauria: Saurischia) del Jurásico de Patagonia, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 41, 393–398.
De Barrio, R.E., Panza, J.L. & Nullo, F.E. (1999) Jurásico y Cretácico del Macizo del Deseado, provincia de Santa Cruz. In: Caminos, R. (Ed.), Geología Argentina. Anales Instituto de Geología y Recursos Naturales, 29, SEGEMAR, Buenos Aires, pp. 511–527.
De Valais, S. (2008) Icnología de tetrápodos Triásicos y Jurásicos de Argentina: aportes al origen de las aves y los mamíferos. Unpublished PhD thesis, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 316 pp.
De Valais, S. & Melchor, R.N. (2003) Nuevos aportes sobre la icnofauna de la Formación La Matilde (Jurásico Medio), provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 40 (Supplement), 53R–54R.
De Valais, S. & Melchor, R.N. (2008) Ichnotaxonomy of bird-like footprints: an example from the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic of Northwest Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 28, 145–159.
De Valais, S., Melchor, R.N. & Genise, J.F. (2003) Hexapodichnus casamiquelai, isp. nov.: an arthropod trackway from the La Matilde Formation (Middle Jurassic), Santa Cruz, Argentina. Asociación Paleontológica Argentina, Publicación Especial, 9, 35–41.
Ellenberger, P. (1970) Les niveaux paleontologiques de premiere apparition des mammiferes primordiaux en Afrique du Sud et leur ichnologie. Establissement de zones stratigraphiques detaillees dans le Stormberg du Lesotho (Afrique du Sud) (Trias superieur a Jurassique). Abstracts 2 Gondwana Symposium, South Africa, 1970, pp. 343–370.
Ellenberger, P. (1972) Contribution à la classification des pistes de vertébrés du Trias: les types du Stomberg d´Afrique du Sud (I). Palaeovertebrata, Memoire Extraordinaire, Montpellier, 134 pp.
Ellenberger, P. (1974) Contribution à la classification des pistes de vertébrés du Trias: les types du Stomberg d´Afrique du Sud (II). Palaeovertebrata, Memoire Extraordinaire, Montpellier, 142 pp.
Ellenberger, P. (1975) L´explosion démographique des petits quadrupèdes a allure de mammifères dans le Stormberg supérieur (Trias) d´Afrique du sud aperçu sur leur origine au Permien (France et Karoo). Colloque international cu centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 218. Problèmes actuaels de Paléontologie (Évolution des vertébrés), pp. 409–439.
Forasiepi, A.M., Rougier, G.W. & Martinelli, A. (2004) A new mammal from the Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation, Chubut Province (Argentina). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24 (Supplement 3), 59A.
Gaetano, L.C. & Rougier, G.W. (2008) The Middle Jurassic triconodont Argentoconodon fariasorum: phylogeny and biogeography. Abstract 3 Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Neuquen, 2008, p. 105.
Gierliński, G., Pienkowski, G. & Niedźwiedzki, G. (2004) Tetrapod track assemblage in the Hettangian of Sołtyków, Poland, and its paleoenvironmental background. Ichnos, 11, 195–213.
Gierliński, G., Niedwiedzki, G. & Pienkowski, G. (2005) Early Hettangian vertebrate ichnoassemblage from Poland. Abstracts of Tracking dinosaur origins. The Triassic/Jurassic terretrial transition, Conference, Utah, 3–4.
Gradstein, F.M. & Ogg, J.G. (2004) Geologic time scale 2004. Why, how, and where next! Lethaia, 37, 175–181.
Grillner, S., Cangiano, L., Hu, G-Y., Thompson, R., Hill, R. & Wallén, P. (2000) The intrinsic function of a motor system - from ion channels to networks and behavior. Brain Research, 886, 224–236.
Gurovich, Y. (2006) Bio-Evolutionary aspects of Mesozoic Mammals: Description phylogenetic relationships and evolution of the Gondwanatheria (Late Cretaceous and Paleocene of Gondwana). Unpublished PhD Thesis, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 574 pp.
Hitchcock, E. (1858) Ichnology of New England. A repost on the sandstone of the Connecticut Valley especially its fossil footmarks. Natural Sciences in America Reprint. Arno Press, Boston, 220 pp.
Ji, Q., Luo, Z-X., Yuan, Ch-X., Wible, J.R., Zhang, J-P. & Georgi, A.J. (2002) The earliest known eutherian mammal. Nature, 416, 816–822.
Kardong, K.V. (1999) Vertebrados. Anatomía comparada, función, evolución. 2 Edición. Mc Graw Hill-Interamericana, Madrid, 732 pp.
Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. & Gambaryan, P.P. (1994) Postcranial anatomy and habits of Asian multituberculate mammals. Fossils and Strata, 36, 1–92.
Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. & Hurum, J.H. (2006) Limb posture in early mammals: sprawling or parasagittal. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 51, 393–406.
Kielan-Jaworowska, Z., Cifelli, R.L. & Luo, Z-X. (2004) Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure. Columbia University Press, New York, 620 pp.
Leonardi, G. (1981) Novo Icnogênero de tetrápode Mesozóico da Formação Botucatu, Araraquara, SP. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 53, 795–805.
Leonardi, G. (1987) Glossary and manual of tetrapod palaeoichnology. Departamento Nacional da Produção Mineral, Brasilia, Brasil, 115 pp.
Leonardi, G. (1994) Annotated atlas of South America tetrapod footprints (Devonian to Holocene). Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 247 pp.
Leonardi, G. & de Oliveira Lima, F.H. (1990) A revision of the Triassic and Jurassic tetrapod footprints of Argentina and a new approach on the age and meaning of the Botucatu Formation footprints (Brazil). Revista Brasileira de Geociências, 20, 216–229.
Lesta, P. & Ferello, R. (1972) Región extraandina de Chubut y norte de Santa Cruz. In: Leanza, H. (Ed.), Geología Regional Argentina. Academia Nacional Ciencias Córdoba, pp. 601–653.
Liliernstern, von, H.R. (1944) Eine Dicynodontierfährte aus dem Chirotheriumsandstein von Hessberg bei Hildburghausenr. Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 23, 368–385.
Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classic, ordines, genera, species cum characteribus, differentiis, synonums locis. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 1, 824 pp.
Lockley, M.G. & Foster, J.R. (2003) Late Cretaceous mammal tracks from North America. Ichnos, 10, 269–276.
Lockley, M., Culver, T.S. & Wegweiser, M. (2007) An ichnofauna of hopping rodent and arthropod trackways from the Miocene of Colorado. In: Lucas, S.G., Spielmann, J.A. & Lockley, M.G. (Eds.), Cenozoic vertebrate tracks and traces. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 42, pp. 59–66.
Lockley, M.G., Lucas, S.G., Hunt, A.P. & Gaston, R. (2004) Ichnofaunas from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary sequences of the gateway area, Western Colorado: implications for faunal composition and correlations with other areas. Ichnos, 11, 89–102.
Martin, T. & Rauhut, O.W.M. (2005) Mandible and dentition of Asfaltomylos patagonicus (Australosphenida, Mammalia) and the Evolution of tribosphenic teeth. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 25, 414–425.
Mazzoni, M.M., Spalletti, L.A., Iñíguez Rodrígues, A.M. & Teruggi, M.E. (1981) El Grupo Bahía Laura en el Gran Bajo de San Julián. Provincia de Santa Cruz. Actas 8 Congreso Geológico Argentino, 1981, 3, 485–507.
McCrea, R.T., Pemberton, S.G. & Currie, P.J. (2004) New ichnotaxa of mammal and reptile tracks from the Upper Paleocene of Alberta. Ichnos, 11, 323–339.
Melchor, R.N. & de Valais, S. (2006) A review of Triassic tetrapod track assemblages from Argentina: a reassessment. Palaeontology, 49, 355–379.
Melchor, R.N., de Valais, S. & Genise, J.F. (2004) Middle Jurassic mammalian and dinosaur footprints and petrified forests from the volcaniclastic La Matilde Formation. In: Bellosi, E. S. & Melchor, R. N (Eds.), Fieldtrip guidebook. I International Congress on Ichnology, Museo Egidio Feruglio, Trelew, pp. 47–63.
Murie, O.J. (1974) Animal tracks. Peterson Field Guides. 2 Edición. Houghton Miffin Company, New York, 375 pp.
Olsen, P.E. & Galton, P.M. (1984) A review of the reptile and amphibian assemblage from the Stormberg of Southern Africa, with special emphasis on the footprints and the age of the Stormberg. Palaeontology African, 25, 87–110.
Olsen, P.E. & Rainforth, E.C. (2001) The “Age of Dinosaurs” in the Newark Basin, with special reference to the Lower Hudson Valley. New York State Geological Association Guidebook, pp. 59–176.
Panza, J.L. (1998) Hoja geológica 4769-IV “Monumento Natural Bosques Petrificados”, escala 1:250.000, provincia de Santa Cruz. Boletín del Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino, 257, Buenos Aires, pp. 1–118 (unpublished).
Panza, J.L. & Genini, A. (1998) Hoja Geológica 4769-IV, Monumento Natural Bosques Petrificados, escala 1:250000, provincia de Santa Cruz. Servicio Geológico Nacional, Buenos Aires, 163 pp.
Panza, J.L. & Haller, M.L. (2002) El volcanismo jurásico. In: Haller, M.J. (Ed.), Geología y Recursos Naturales de Santa Cruz. Relatorio 15º Congreso Geológico Argentino, 2002, I–7, Santa Cruz, pp. 89–101.
Rainforth, E.C. & Lockley, M.G. (1996) Tracks of diminutive dinosaurs and hopping mammals from the Jurassic of North and South America. In: Morales, M. (Ed.), The continental Jurassic. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin 60, pp. 265–269.
Rauhut, O.W.M., Martin, T., Ortiz-Jaureguizar, E. & Puerta, P. (2002) A Jurassic mammal from South America. Nature, 416, 165–168.
Rezendes, P. (1995) Tracking and the art of seeing. How to read animal tracks and sign. Camben House Publishing, Inc, Ontario, 320 pp.
Rougier, G.W. (2002) Mesozoic mammals. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, 11, 562–567.
Rougier, G.W., Martinelli, A.G., Forasiepi, A.M. & Novacek, M.J. (2007a) New Jurassic mammals from Patagonia, Argentina: a reappraisal of australosphenidan morphology and interrelationships. American Museum Novitates, 3566, 1–54.
Rougier, G.W., Garrido, A., Gaetano, L., Puerta, P.F., Corbitt, C. & Novacek, M.J. (2007b) First Jurassic Triconodont from South America. American Museum Novitates, 3580, 1–17.
Sarjeant, W.A.S. (2000) The mesozoic mammal footprint record reconsidered: with an account of new discoveries in the Cretaceous of Northwestern Alberta, Canada. Paleontology Society of Korea Special Publication, 4, 153–168.
Sarjeant, W.A.S. & Langston, W., Jr. (1994) Vertebrate footprints and invertebrate traces from the Chadronian (Late Eocene) of Trans-Pecos Texas. Texas Memorial Museum Bulletin 36, 86 pp.
Scrivner, P.J. & Bottjer, D.J. (1986) Neogene avian and mammalian tracks from Death Valley National Monument, California: their context, classification and preservation. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 57, 285–331.
Stipanicic, O. & Reig, A.O. (1956) Posiciones estratigráficas y edades de las principales floras jurásicas argentinas. II Floras doggerianas y málmicas. Ameghiniana, 7, 101–118.
Stipanicic, O. & Reig, A.O. (1956) El “Complejo Porfírico de la Patagonia extraandina” y su fauna de anuros. Acta Geológica Lilloana, 1, 185–297.
Thulborn, T. (1990) Dinosaurs tracks. Chapman and Hall, London, 409 pp.
Trewin, N.H. (1994) A draft system for the identification and description of arthropod trackways. Palaeontology, 37, 811–823.
Vialov, O.S. (1966) Sledy zhiznedeiatel´nosti organizmow i ikh paleontogicheskoe znachenie. Kiev: Naukova Dumka. Academy of Sciences, Ukranian, 219 pp.
Willey, J.S., Biknevicius, A.R., Reilly, S.M. & Earls, K.D. (2004) The tale of the tail: limb function and locomotor mechanics in Alligator mississippiensis. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 207, 553–563.
Ziswiler, V. (1980) Zoología especial. Vertebrados. Tomo II: Amniotas. Ediciones Omega, Barcelona, España, 411 pp.