Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism?

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ichnological and palaeobiological interpretation of the first dinosaur tracks described from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, anthropogenic ‘fireclay caverns’ of Mount Morgan, Australia, is reviewed. This track sequence of two size categories has been widely accepted as having been formed by a theropod walking in an uncharacteristic quadrupedal stance. However, the morphology of the purported manus impression remained ambiguous due to the poor reproduction quality of the original image data. Here, we present previously unpublished archival photographic and replica material of this track surface. These clearly show the morphological details of the track series that are consistent with registration by two different sized bipedal track-makers. Overall, our findings illustrate that retained archival data can be pivotal in the resolution of palaeoichnological obscurities.