Amphisauropus latus Haubold, 1970

Moreau, Jean-David & Gand, Georges, 2022, New data on the Permian ecosystem of the Rodez Basin: ichnofauna (traces of protostomians, tetrapods and fishes), jellyfishes and plants from Banassac-Canilhac (Lozère, southern France), Geodiversitas 44 (31), pp. 975-987 : 979

Amphisauropus latus Haubold, 1970

( Fig. 4 )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Eight tracks preserved as concave epireliefs on slab M486_ 2022.1.5.

DESCRIPTION

The trackway is 13 cm long, 6 cm wide and composed of four consecutive pes/manus sets ( Fig. 4A, B ). Pes and manus stride is 6.4-6.5 cm long. The manus tracks are more internal than pes tracks. Both are small sized and semi-plantigrade. Pes imprints are pentadactyl and wider than long (PL = 1.1 cm, PW = 1.8-2.0 cm; Fig. 4 ). The PL/PW ratio is equal to 0.6. Digit imprints are short, straight to slightly curved and end in an enlarged rounded tip ( Fig. 4 C-E). Pes tracks show a short, large and poorly impressed sole with concave proximal margin. The manus tracks are strongly oriented inward, forming an angle of up to 120° with the trackway axis. Manus imprints are pentadactyl and wider than long (ML = 0.9-1.1 cm; MW = 1.6-1.9 cm; ML/MW = 0.6). Imprints of digits are short and end in a small enlarged rounded tip. The manual digits II-III bent inwards. The divarication angle of digits I-V is up 153°.

REMARKS

As noted by Gand et al. (2000) Amphisauropus Haubold, 1970 shares similarities with Merifontichnus Gand, Garric, Demathieu & Ellenberger, 2000 . Tracks from Le Bousquet differ from this latter by smaller size and the pedal digit I not parallel to the proximal margin of the sole. Although tracks from Le Bousquet share some similarities with Dolomitipes Marchetti, Voigt & Klein, 2017, this ichnogenus differs in showing manus tracks placed in line or slightly external to the pes, and pedal tracks longer than wide or about as wide as long and 40 to 250 mm long ( Marchetti et al. 2019). Amphisauropus represents a widespread Permian ichnogenus that has been reported from many areas including Africa ( Voigt et al. 2011; Hminna et al. 2012; Moreau et al. 2020); Argentina ( Melchor & Sarjeant 2004); Canada ( Mossman & Place 1989; van Allen et al. 2005); Europe (e.g. Gand & Haubold 1984; Gand 1987; Haubold 1971; Santi & Krieger 2001; Ptaszyński & Niedźwiedzki 2004; Voigt 2005; Avanzini et al. 2008; Voigt et al. 2012; Marchetti et al. 2015) and the United States ( Lucas et al. 2001). In France, Amphisauropus was previously reported from the Lodève Basin ( Gand & Durand 2006) and the Rodez Basin ( Gand 1987). Although Gand (1987) reported Amphisauropus in several localities near Banassac-Canilhac this ichnogenus is here for the first time reported from Le Bousquet.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Amphisauropus latus Haubold, 1970: A, B, slab bearing a trackway with four consecutive pes/manus sets, photograph (A) and interpretative sketch (B). C-E, pes/manus set; photograph (C), digital elevation model in false colours (D) and interpretative sketch (E). Concave epireliefs, specimen M486_2022.1.5. Abbreviations: p., pes track; m., manus track. Scale bars: 1 cm.