Stegopodus

Stegopodus was a new ichnogenus erected in 1998 for the second set of stegosaur tracks from the Morrison Formation.[1] The tracks were found near Arches National Park, also in Utah.[1] Unlike the first, this trackway preserved traces of the forefeet. Fossil remains indicate that stegosaurs have five digits on the forefeet and three weight-bearing digits on the hind feet.[1] From this, paleontologists were able to successfully predict the appearance of stegosaur tracks in 1990, six years in advance of the first actual discovery of Morrison stegosaur tracks.[1] Since the erection of Stegopodus, more trackways have been found, however none have preserved traces of the front feet, and stegosaur traces remain rare.[1]

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Walk and Don't Look Back: The Footprints; Stegosaurs" Foster (2007) pg. 238

References


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