Telling Apart Ornithopod and Theropod Trackways: A Closer Look at a Large, Late Jurassic Tridactyl Dinosaur Trackway at Serwah, Republic of Yemen

Abstract

A large bipedal tridactyl dinosaur trackway from the Late Jurassic of Serwah, near Madar, Arhab district, Republic of Yemen, has been attributed to an ornithopod trackmaker. As the distinction between theropod and ornithopod dinosaurs can pose a challenge, we present additional data to support and reconfirm the previous attribution.

Keywords:

• Dinosaur tracks
• Republic of Yemen
• Tridactyl trackways
• Ornithopod
• Theropod
• Jurassic

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Joaquin Moratalla kindly shared with us his current thoughts on a project he embarked upon a quarter of a century ago. We are very grateful to Annette Richter (Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Hannover, Germany) and her colleagues and co-workers for organizing the Obernkirchen symposium, which inspired part of this research. The support by the Yemen Geological Survey and the University of Sana’a is thankfully acknowledged. Many thanks to Basheer Al-Botaily, Fuad Al-Nehmy, and Nancy Stevens for their help, company, enthusiasm, and discussions during the trackway mapping, and thanks to Anthony Romilio for the feedback and discussions prior to, during, and after the Obernkirchen symposium. The helpful feedback and suggestions by Hendrik Klein and an anonymous reviewer are much appreciated.