Author: reporter of Lille
Beijing, March 4, early morning report (Reporter
Zhang Yaxiong
)
Chinese and foreign paleontologists have worked together to discover and confirm that Sambiluoka Dinosaur Footprint Spot No. 2 in Zhaojue County, Sichuan Province is the largest dinosaur footprint spot discovered in China so far. It covers an area of more than 9,000 square meters and has at least 933 footprints.
The relevant research results were published online in the international geological journal "Earth Science Frontiers" in the early morning of March 4th, Beijing time.
The dinosaur footprints of Zhaojue, Sichuan, were found in a copper mine in Sanbiluoga, Zhaojue, on multiple steeply dipping rock faces in the clastic rocks of the Feitianshan Formation in the early Cretaceous.
The fossil point extends about 1 km from north to south and about 0.5 km from east to west.
According to Xing Lida, the research team leader and Associate Professor of China University of Geosciences (Beijing), four important footprints have been identified at the dinosaur footprint point, which have been designated as No. 1, No. 2, No. 2 North and No. 3.
Among them, Point 1 was first reported in the 1990s, and other footprint points were discovered by paleontologists from 2012 to 2019.
Xing Lida pointed out that Footprint No. 2 has experienced two exposures.
In 2013, paleontologists announced the smaller footprint of the footprint, including the first confirmed dinosaur swimming track in China.
After that, continuous mining increased the exposed surface of the footprint point, making it the largest dinosaur footprint point in China.
From 2017 to 2019, paleontologists used rock climbing, drone photography and other exploration methods to confirm that there are at least 933 identifiable dinosaur footprints on this level, as well as the longest sauropod and ornithopod trails currently recorded in China , Which are about 80 meters and 52 meters long respectively, some of the tracks also show obvious changes in the direction of movement of the dinosaur tracers, and provide behavioral details of the dinosaur activities in the relevant area.
The reporter learned that the dinosaur footprints at the Zhaojue No. 2 footprint point are very rich, including 61 tracks (37 ornithopods, 10 theropods, 14 sauropods) and 7 isolated footprints, representing a total of 68 tracks. Trace maker.
Among them, ornithopod trails (including large and small trail makers) accounted for about 54% of the total.
This time, paleontologists also recorded a smaller footprint point, footprint point No. 3, which included at least 6 ornithod and 4 theropod trails.
"Both No. 2 and No. 3 footprints include parallel ornithod trails, which may represent social or social behavior." Xing Lida said.
All 4 footprints of Zhaojue Sanbi Luoga include 1928 footprints, covering an area of more than 10,000 square meters, including previously reported footsteps of pterosaurs and theropod swimming tracks.
Xing Lida said that Zhaojue's footprint point is an excellent area for studying dinosaur footprints. Hundreds of footprints have been exposed, including the longest sauropod and ornithopod trails in China.
Previously, there was a lack of Cretaceous dinosaur bone fossils in the southern Sichuan Basin. Such a rich footprint record of Sanbi Luoga provided an excellent census sample for studying the paleoecology of the Cretaceous dinosaur fauna in the area.
The research was conducted by Xing Lida, associate professor of China University of Geosciences (Beijing), PhD student Wang Miaoyan, research librarians of Zigong Dinosaur Museum Peng Guangzhao and Ye Yong, Professor Martin Lockley of the University of Colorado Denver, and German footprint scholar Hendrick Klein Announced together.
"Guangming Daily" (March 04, 2021 09 Edition)