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Giant theropod footprints in Morocco
Boutakiout, M., Hadri, M., Nouri, J., Díaz-Martínez, I. & Pérez-Lorente,
F. 2009. /Rastrilladas de icnitas terópodas gigantes del Jurásico
Superior (Sinclinal de Iouaridène, Marruecos). Revista Española de
Paleontología/, 24 (1), 31-46
English abstract:
The dinosaur ichnological research in the Upper Jurassic lacustrine
sediments of the Iouaridène syncline provide data of interest. One of
them includes the discovery of gigantic digitigrade theropod footprints,
with a not described size. The exposures of ichnitic levels are
continuous in the zone and the continuity of stratigraphic beds permits
the good correlation. All sites are directly linked, except one of them
that are separated by a cover of quaternary glacis sediments. Inside the
work area, that includes the half of the syncline, the giant footprints
occupy a limited section that extends in the same direction of these
footprints. The spatial situation allows us to propose that the gigantic
footprints of every bed belong to the same trackway, with a maximum
length 2000 m. The direct and indirect footprint structures are
distinctive from each to other trackway. However these are not the only
footprints discovered; between and inside the sites, there are many
smaller theropod and some ornithopod and sauropod prints. This shows
that, at least three giant theropod dinosaurs lived in the same site
with the smaller theropods being the last most prominent. After a
comparative study it is proposed that two of the three gigantic theropod
trackways and the digitigrade footprints described in this paper, are
the largest discovered yet in the world.