Some random photographs

The Main Brijun island (Veli Brijun) in teh Summer of 2015, theropod tracks from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) site on the Pogledalo promontory. The tracks in the picture belong to two different trackways. Right foot on the left and left foot on the right.

The brave girls jumping off the cliffs at the Cape Kamenjak (September 2016)

A theropod footprint at the Cape Kamenjak (September 2016)

A view at the Muzil and Stoja promontories (Feb. 2015)

A titanosaur footprint (2015)

A lesson in recent ichmology: "canisturbation"

A theropod track from Solaris outcrop

"The field work in the late Albian track site of the Solaris Campground near Cervera/Červar (Torre/Tar municipality, Istria, Croatia) was undertaken during the years 1995-96 thanks to a grant of The Dinosaur Society and the collaboration of the local authorities. The field work at the site has been described in DALLA VECCHIA (1996). A description of the site before the cleaning of the main footprint-bearing surface and its detailed mapping and description can be seen in DALLA VECCHIA (1994). The detailed description has been published by DALLA VECCHIA et al. (2000)."
What's interesting about the Solaris track sites is that they are represented with relatively small dinosaur tracks. Dalla Vecchia speculates that the dinosaurs were of a diminutive size due to their habitat. They lived isolated on an island, whose resources couldn't provide for the "full-size" large dinosaurs that inhabited the mainlands. On the other hand, although roughly from the same age and just some 40-50km away, dinosaur tracks from Pula beaches are of many size classes, the biggest of which are among the world record breakers.

In the image below, you can see one of small theropod tracks from the Solaris beach. Red outline is my interpretation. This one wasn't described in any paper, yet.

There is probably more than one footprint in this image, but I have outlined only the best one.

Back from Pula

This weekend in Pula (17-19 October 2014) was a nice trip. It was warm, although, a bit too humid for my taste and the sea was still good enough (21°C) for swimming. The water was crystal clear, by the way.
Of course, I managed finding some more dinosaur tracks on the beach. Here is a decent small theropod footprint with my interpretation.

After snorkeling and enjoying the mid-October sun, the berries from the  strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) locally known as "planika", were a nice fresh snack. They are abundant at this tourist resort grounds. It was peaceful and quiet with only a few people on the beach and in the water. The premises of the resort Zlatne stijene are closed until the next season (2015).

The Saturday market in Pula was well stocked and visited as usually.

Once again on Grakalovac

The Grakalovac promontory on the south Istrian Cape Kamenjak is famous for his medium sized theropod trackway from the late Cretaceous (Cenomanian). Every single footprint of this trackway is encircled by the (ugly) black paint. However, there are many more theropod tracks at the same outcrop, but they are less preserved and less visible. The image at the bottom shows the smaller footprints of a theropod that might have been related to the dromaeosauridae or noasauridae. The toe #2 seems to be reduced and baring a larger claw. But that is only an assumption. The dromaeosaurid tracks are extremely rare. This footprint is about 14,5 cm long.

I have done a bit different interpretation of this track before:

Back to Grakalovac (2)

It is a part of the trackway. However, in my first interpretation, which may be more detailed and better I didn't draw the surrounding poorly preserved prints. Which may be the prints that were placed a bit later, when the substrate was drier.

Finding new tracks on the Main Brijun island

Although, the tracksites on the Main Brijun island have been described in the papers (the Pogledalo promontory site at least three times), I keep finding the new footprints there each time I visit it. There are two reasons why I manage doing that: the first is that some of the tracks are being constantly covered and uncovered by the beach pebbles, when the waves move them and the other is that some of the tracks are literally invisible until some particular kind of sun light reveals them.
Here is one of the large theropod foot impressions that is somewhat deformed. The red outline is my interpretation. The theropod's footprint is about 42 cm long.
This is an Early Cretaceous (Barremian). About 125 million years ago.

Several smaller theropod footprints from the same site in  various states of preservation. I have interpreted some of them with the red outline.

On Istrian tracks again

The footprint of a medium-sized theropod from the Grakalovac (Kamenjak/Premantura) site.

I keep finding new tracks after the heavy rains at the Ankylosaur dinoturbation site (I) in Pula. This left pes impression is about 40 cm long (+- 2 cm). my interpretation is the red outline below, of course. Obviously it belongs to the smaller specimen on the site. "Smaller" means that the dinosaur was probably about 8-9 meters long. That is huge for an ankylosaur! Now you can calculate yourself how big was the trackmaker anky who left the footprints some 70-75 cm long there!

The outcrop.

 ***************

Two consecutive cervical vertebrae of the Istrian pygmy titanosauriform sauropod (Early Cretaceous -Barremian). Only a small portion of the anterior one is preserved. The fossil before preparation. The photograph from the museum/gallery Ulika in Bale. — kraj: Bale-Valle Istra

Some tracks from the Main Brijun island

The trackways outcrop at the Pogledalo promontory of the Main Brijun island. Early Cretaceous of the ADCP (Adriatic-Dinaridic carbonate platform).

Some Barremian tracks from the Main Brijun island (the Pogledalo promontory), with my interpretation attempt.

Outlined in green is apparently a left foot impression of a large iguanodontoid. Bellow it in the photograph is a right footprint of the medium-sized theropod (red outline). There has been some skidding in the mud of both animals. The iguanodontoid track is partially (toe-hooves II and IV) a positive (cast). There is a track I couldn't figure out (this time) left of the iguanodontoid footprint.

Walking down the Cretaceous lane

A probable ankylosaur track (pes) from Pula. Outline of Sauropelta's pes (Carpenter) is on top of the footprint for matching.

In fact I am quite certain in my attribution, since it is not the only track of this shape and size there. With a bit of field work and mapping, the trackways could be identified. This was an animal of enormous size.

Strange traces in Pula. Possible theropod swimming traces?

A probable giant theropod track (natural cast) in Pula.

Another large theropod footprint from the Main Brijun island, that I couldn't figure out. A double impression, probably? Notice the giant "human" footprint on the left. I bet some enthusiastic creationist has put it there (hahaha)!

The so called (mini) "Pula fjord".

Trying the simple zoom on my pocket camera: A view at the Stoja and the steep Muzil cliffs near Pula. I haven't checked that place for tracks yet.

One of many Pula beaches. This track bearing one is my favourite spot for snorkeling.

The dusk pink clouds over Pula.

A poorly preserved giant theropod trackway in Pula.

Recent tracks and traces on a busy path through the meadow. Can you identify them?

Fake dinosaur tracks. Can you guess why am I so sure about it? 

Answer: This is Eocene flysch!

 A nice very large iguanodontoid footprint (Pula beach). I have found more tracks nearby that are almost perfect match to my red outline interpretation. These might have been subadults, because the largest ones I have found there are much bigger.

 A dusk over the Pula rocky beach. Dinosaur tracks became invisible and the swarms of mosquitoes irritating.

 What are the chances for these recent ripple marks to get preserved in this shape for 100 million years as a solid rock?

A couple of different photographs

One of the photographs I took a couple of years ago, showing dwarf sauropod and theropod tracks at the Solaris (fkk auto camp) Early Cretaceous (Late Albian) outcrop.

For a change of pace: Here is a photograph of the Oligocene plant fossils I have collected near Zagorje ob Savi (Slovenia) many years ago. A toxodium branch (left) and a laurel leaf (right). The area was obviously a cypress swamp.

A few photographs from Istria

A juvenile sea gull is posing for my camera (Portorose, Istria, Slovenia).

A large Medusa swimming near the Main Brijun Island (Istria, Croatia).

A nice sauropod track from the Late Albian (Early Cretaceous) of Pula. It is the right manus/pes set of the Brontopodus type.

A dwarf sauropod trackway (probably Titanosaurimanus nana, Dalla Vecchia and Tarlao 2000) at the Solaris oucrop (Istria, Croatia)

Nice large Early Cretaceous ripple marks on Pula beach.

A dinosaur footprint, probably a large theropod on Pula outcrop.

Lovrečica Cenomanian track baring outcrop. One of the theropod tracks is visible in the photograph.

A right pes track of apparently enormous anklyosaur at one of the Pula's ankylosaur dinoturbations. Sauropelta pes outline from Carpenter is on the right. The animals seem to have been gregarious. Beside a few gigantic prints there are at least two parallel trackways of somewhat smaller ankylosaurs.

The right pes of much smaller ankylosaur (but still large) from the same Pula outcrop. The length of the pes is about 45 cm. The length of the larger one was in the range of 70-75 cm.

A sunset in Pula.