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Abstract
Recent fieldwork in the Ombilin Basin of west-central Sumatra resulted in the discovery of two distinct types of avian footprints, both referable to the ichnogenus Aquatilavipes. The footprints were discovered in the Oligocene Sawahlunto Formation in a creek side outcrop near the Kandi Ombilin Mine. Aquatilavipes wallacei is a small species of Aquatilavipes (∼ 19 mm wide; 27 mm long) with elongate third digits, wide total divarication angles (120–150°) and inwardly curved peripheral digits. Aquatilavipes ichnospecies A are also small traces (average 21 mm wide; 31 mm long) with elongate third digits and straight to slightly outwardly curved peripheral digits. These traces are similar in morphology to those of small modern shorebirds such as rails (Rallidae), sandpipers (Scolapacidae) or plovers (Charadriinae).
The Sawahlunto traces occur in very fine-grained to fine-grained sandstone characterized by low-relief current ripples, many of which exhibit mud-draping. A low diversity invertebrate trace fossil assemblage consisting of Arenicolites, Diplocraterion, Planolites, Monocraterion, Skolithos and Coenobichnus co-occurs with the bird footprints. This succession is interpreted as intertidal sand flats. Probe and peck marks preserved on the same bedding planes as the bird footprints support the interpretation that these birds occupied the Kandi intertidal flats for foraging purposes.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Funding for the Sumatra field project was provided by grants from the National Geographic Society and from the Human Evolution Research Fund at the University of Iowa Foundation. We are grateful to Thomas Stidham and Jenni Scott for discussion on the paleontology, ethology and ichnology of birds and to Thomas P. Eiting and Alison R. Murray for assistance in the field. Peter Falkingham, Martin Lockley and Murray Gingras are thanked for editing this manuscript and tightening the ichnotaxonomy.