Crocodylomorph Tracks from the Late Jurassic of Asturias (Spain)

Abstract

Some small and medium-sized crocodylomorph footprints are described from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) coastal and deltaic units of the northern Spain (Asturias). There are at least four footprint morphotypes. Three of them, with well preserved trackways, are included in the ichnogenus Crocodylopodus (Crocodylopodus isp. and Crocodylopodus meijidei); the fourth one, documented by some isolated large footprints, is referable to the ichnogenus Hatcherichnus. This ichnoassociation confirms the presence of small crocodilians in palaeoenvironments apparently dominated by dinosaurs. The presence of Hatcherichnus seems to confirm the affinity between the Iberian and North American ichnofaunas.

Keywords:

• crocodylomorph
• footprints
• Late Jurassic
• Spain
• Asturias

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are indebted to Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat (Université de Poitiers, Poitiers) and John R. Foster (Museum of Western Colorado) for the formal and particularly constructive reviews. The work of J. C. García-Ramos, J. Lires and L. Piñuela was supported by grants of the Proyecto de Investigación Concertada FC-02-PC-CIS01-56 (FICYT)—Consejería de Educación y Cultura del Principado de Asturias. M. Avanzini benefit of Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali grants 230/10.