Veliki pernati teropod

Yutyrannus

Tijekom donje krede je došlo do određenog razdoblja hladnije klime, unatoč činjenici da je ugljikovog dioksida u atmosferi bilo čak deset puta nego danas. 

Je li to bio razlog da su se veliki teropodi "odjenuli" u proto-perje?

Osam-metarski kineski tiranozaurid je bio jedan od tih. Nakon okončanja hladnog perioda, klima se opet zagrijala. Da li su onda veliki teropodi izgubili perje? Ili im je to ostalo?

 

Another strange body impression

The Pula mega track site

A peculiar case of the probable reptilian body print from EK mega track site in Pula. Candidates: croc, gator, monitor lizard, chamsposaurid. Seemingly very large oval scales on the belly. It appears it had 5 toes on legs - (croc has 4)

The photo of the impression in situ and my interpretation:

Some ref literature

27 April 2022

The megatracksite phenomenon: implications for tetrapod palaeobiology across terrestrial-shallow-marine transitional zones

• Martin G. Lockley and
 
• Christian A. Meyer

https://doi.org/10.1144/SP522-2021-164

CITING LITERATURE

• Carlos Cónsole-Gonella, Silvina de Valais, Ignacio Díaz-Martínez, Paolo Citton, Mariano Verde, Duncan McIlroy, The ichnology of shallow-marine and transitional environments, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 10.1144/SP522-2022-344, 522, 1, (1-4), (2023).
  Abstract
• Alexander Wagensommer, Rainer Dolch, Tiana Ratolojanahary, Simon Donato, Simone D'Orazi Porchetti, Defining the Bemaraha megatracksite: an update on dinosaur ichnology in Madagascar, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 10.1144/SP522-2021-86, 522, 1, (2022).
  Abstract
• Ignacio Díaz-Martínez, Mikel A. López-Horgue, Luis M. Agirrezabala, Carlos Cónsole-Gonella, Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, Dinosaur tracks in a Cretaceous (lower Albian) braid delta system (Basque–Cantabrian Basin, western Pyrenees): linking trace fossils suites and short-term preservation windows, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 10.1144/SP522-2021-197, 522, 1, (237-264), (2022).
  Abstract

Tragovi dinosaura opet uništeni betoniranjem obale

Pula 2011: 1st ankylosaur dinoturbation - left manus/pes set of a probable Polacanthinae ankylosaur. Manus is better preserved. The black outline is from Carpenter's Sauropelta (Tetrapodosaurus ichnospecies). 


Alas, these two were also covered with concrete last year.(2018) The tracks are being destroyed at the ever-increasing rate.

Main Brijun island tracks

Otok Veli Brijun (Brion) 2012. Mjerim veličinu otiska stopala velikog teropoda, koji je ostavio svoj oblik stopala (left pes) uključujući i metatarzalni dio, što je dosta rijetko.Iscrtao sam oblik crvenom linijom da se bolje vidi forma.  Otisak vrha srednjeg prsta (#3) nedostaje.

Reviewing the old sites

An interesting and a very rare find yesterday. It looks like it is an EK baby ankylosaur (nodosaurid) footprint on a piece of rock. I've found it near the ankylosaur dinoturbation No 2.

It is only the middle of February. No tourists at the beaches of Pula. Thus the sea is crystal clear.

A theropod track. It is probably from a large dromaeosaurid.

Yesterday: The giant ankylosaur (nodosaurid) footprint - natural cast deteriorated since the last time I had photographed it a couple of years ago. The new tourist signatures are engraved on it as well.

Some old some new finds

A large theropod trackway (EK) A lot of other different tracks on the same site.

 A small theropod trackway near the sauropod dinoturbation (EK)

A mid-size theropod from the cape Kamenjak. Also my find, of course. (LK)

A REMINDER! My book...

A question: Are these theropod or ornithopod tracks?

I am still not sure if these EK tracks from the mega track site are theropod or ornithopod tracks?

I am inclined towards the theropod ones. Judging from the shape and size of their footprints theropods were the most diverse dinosaurs at the site.



A reminder for my book:

My first iguanodontoid track

This is the  first giant iguanodontoid track I have initially found in 2010. This is in fact a dinoturbation with several footprints more or less well defined. (2012)

The newly discovered dinoturbation

Yet another EK dinoturbation I have discovered at the megatrack site this February.

The sauropod trackways

The sauropod trackways I have discovered in 2012

The Early Cretaceous thrombolites and dinoturbations

Thrombolites

Dinoturbation

An old Roman gate

More "giant human" early Cretaceous tracks

The second EK "giant human" track site (cca 100 mya). The giant should have been about 230 cm tall, or more likely, these were the bottom feeding traces left by a large fish. For a difference from the other site, this one has more dispersed traces.

Oho, we have a situation here!

I have discovered this particular  Early Cretaceous sauropod track site a few years ago.Last weekend I went to take a few more photographs. The light was favourable, that late Friday afternoon, so I made some interesting new discoveries. It seems that a rather large theropod walked at the same site. Maybe a bit earlier than the sauropod, because the footprint on the left is a bit deformed by the print that sauropod left later. There was another theropod on the right, or maybe this time theropod returned to stalk the sauropod.
In fact, there should be a right manus sauropod print roughly at the same place where the theropod left pes imprint is. Thus, it seems that the theropod stepped over it, obliterating it. It's possible the large theropod was following the sauropod!
 There is at least a dozen different spots with sauropod tracks or dinoturbations near the city of Pula. I need to draw a map, because it is becoming ever harder to keep all those places, including the tracks of other tetrapods, in my mind.
My interpretation is on the right. The length of the theropod foot was in the range of 55 and 60 cm. The animal was probably at least 10 to 12 metres long.
TLP = theropod left pes; SRP = sauropod right pes; SRM = sauropod right manus

The ripple marks on a layer that is about 30 cm above the sauropod track site layer.

Ankylosaur tracks that are a few kilometres further along the coast.

The sea was very calm that day.

I must admit I am completely lost here: What made these round prints in a shallow sea water some 100 mya? A medusa? Some fish? (A ray fish feeding)?

My interpretation - which led me to no conculsion. Of course, it's not the only round imprint of the same kind there but this one is the largest.

Pula the other day: a mummified carcass of a seagull washed out on a beach. It gives you an idea why are many fossils so jumbled.

 A giant Iggy track-natural cast, I have found years ago. This one has its toes well defined. It is probably the right foot imprint.

The Iggy track - natural cast, I have found a few months ago. If you have any "objections" over its size, I can only tell you that I have found quite a few of the tracks of similar proportions and a couple of prints that are even larger!

Pula last weekend: Opa! It seems I have found some small pterosaur tracks, again. It might the left foot (pes) in the centre. The other prints are less preserved. I am quite certain that the left foot on the right belongs to me, though.