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Boutakioutichnium, tetradactyl theropod tracks from Morocco



From: Ben Creisler
bh480@scn.org
 
New in PLoS ONE:
 
Nouri, J., Díaz-Martínez, I.& Pérez-Lorente,  F. (2011)
Tetradactyl Footprints of an Unknown Affinity Theropod Dinosaur from the Upper 
Jurassic of Morocco. 
PLoS ONE 6(12): e26882. 
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026882
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0026882;jsessionid=DF972911A76A085486DDB9BF49A5CD0A
 
 
 
Background
New tetradactyl theropod footprints from Upper Jurassic 
(Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian) have been found in the Iouaridène syncline (Morocco). 
The tracksites are at several layers in the intermediate lacustrine unit of 
Iouaridène Formation. The footprints were named informally in previous works 
“Eutynichnium atlasipodus”. We consider as nomen nudum.
 
Methodology/Principal Findings
Boutakioutichnium atlasicus ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov. is mainly characterized 
by the hallux impression. It is long, strong, directed medially or forward, 
with two digital pads and with the proximal part of the first pad in lateral 
position. More than 100 footprints in 15 trackways have been studied with these 
features. The footprints are large, 38–48 cm in length, and 26–31 cm in width.
 
Conclusions/Significance
Boutakioutichnium mainly differs from other ichnotaxa with hallux impression in 
lacking metatarsal marks and in not being a very deep footprint. The distinct 
morphology of the hallux of the Boutakioutichnium trackmaker –i.e. size and 
hallux position- are unique in the dinosaur autopodial record to date.