Batrachichnus Woodworth, 1900
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.13510407 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F387F5-1632-7C3A-FCF4-FCCA8AD664B0 |
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
scientific name |
Batrachichnus Woodworth, 1900 |
status |
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Ichnogenus Batrachichnus Woodworth, 1900
(= Saurichnites Geinitz, 1851 ; partim)
Batrachichnus cf. salamandroides ( Geinitz, 1861) Figs. 3A–D View Fig , 5B, C View Fig .
Material.—Tumlin Gród quarry: Muz. PIG OS−220/41 thin sandstone slab with many poorly preserved natural casts of imprints on its bottom side; Muz. PIG OS−220/42 ( Fig. 3A View Fig 1 View Fig , A 2 View Fig ); Muz. PIG OS−220/43 ( Fig. 3B View Fig ); Muz. PIG OS−220/51 three slabs representing the same track−bearing surface with imprints on the bottom side of the layer with ripple marks; Muz. PIG OS−220/48, Muz. PIG OS−220/49, Muz. PIG OS−220/50 slabs with moulds on upper sides, representing the same track−bearing surface as Muz. PIG OS−220/41; Muz. PIG OS−220/44: 1, 2, 3 ( Figs. 3C View Fig 1 View Fig , C 2 View Fig , C 3 View Fig , 5B, C View Fig ) slab with relatively well preserved imprints; Muz. PIG OS−220/45 ( Fig. 3D View Fig ), Muz. PIG OS−220/46 thin slabs with poorly preserved footprints and invertebrate tracks on their bottom sides; Muz. PIG OS−220/47 slab with poorly preserved imprints. Small, poorly preserved imprints have been found also at Sosnowica Hill quarry.
Description.—In Tumlin Gród quarry small structures occur which can be identified as very small vertebrate footprints. No trackways were observed, only isolated imprints or sets have been found ( Figs. 3C 3 View Fig , 5B View Fig ). They are mostly poorly preserved, often visible only as small hollows on sandstone layers. Similar state of preservation is known from other localities ( Gand and Haubold 1984: fig. 12).
Pes.—Pentadactyl pedal imprints, with length equal width about 12 mm ( Figs. 3C 3 View Fig , 5B View Fig ). The digit group I– IV is 11 mm long by 12 mm wide. Digits I– IV diverge at about 30°. They increase in length from I to IV; the IV is almost equal in length to the III ( Figs. 3C View Fig 2 View Fig , 5C View Fig ). Digit V, situated somewhat behind the digit group I– IV, is 6 mm long. Digits I– V diverge at about 100°. Digit tips are distinctly impressed, but no claw marks are discernible.
Manus.—Supposed manual imprints are somewhat smaller than pedal ones ( Figs. 3C 3 View Fig , 5B View Fig ). Manual digits I– IV increase in length, like in pedal ones. The manus is probably tetradactyl; digit V was not observed.
Remarks.—Lack of trackway features, incompleteness, poor preservation and uncertain number of manual digits make determination of these tracks somewhat difficult. Small size of imprints, their shape, angles between digits and digit length proportions allow determination of these footprints as representatives of Batrachichnus Woodworth, 1900 . There are no visible differences between the imprints described above and specimens described by many authors as Anthichnium salamandroides or Batrachichnus salamandroides . Nevertheless, the material of very small footprints accounted to ichnogenera Batrachichnus , Anthichnium , Saurichnites and many others, often fragmentarily and poorly preserved, needs revision (see Holub and Kozur 1981, Fichter 1983 a, Gand and Haubold 1988). Trackmakers of those footprints may represent different and systematically distant groups of animals.
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Royal British Columbia Museum - Herbarium |
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