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Abstract
Two new sites with mammalian footprints in the early Oligocene of southeastern France are described here. They represent one of the best preserved and more numerous record of tracks and trackways in the world with more than 320 ichnites. Many of those are arranged in trackways and sometimes show pes-manus impressions, a quite rare feature in mammalian ichnology. The ichnotaxonomic study indicates the presence of perissodactyls tracks referred to as Rhinoceripeda voconcense (CitationDemathieu et al., 1984), artiodactyls footprints referred to as Megapecoripeda velox (CitationDemathieu et al., 1984) and a carnivore footprint referred to as Bestiopeda sp. CitationVialov (1966). They can be attributed to early Rhinocerotids, Lophiomerycids and/or Entelodonts and Mustelid-like carnivore, respectively. This study also aims at homogenizing the ichnotaxonomy used for mammal tracks where several genera were erected without a full review of the literature. All this taken together reveals a rich mammalian ichnofauna at a time period when no other fossils of mammals are known in the area and represents a good opportunity to provide state-of-the-art concerning the worldwide known sites that yielded mammalian footprints.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
L.C. is grateful to the Regional Natural Park of the Luberon for helping with accommodations during field work. Field assistants (Nature Guides) are acknowledged for assistance on the field to uncover the site of Gignac. Dr. Claude Guérin is warmly thanked for his help through the early developments of this work at the University of Lyon, France. Finally, we thank George Pemberton for the editorial work, and Georges Demathieu and Georges Gand for their reviews.