Early Permian diadectomorph tetrapod footprints from the Bromacker locality (Thuringia, Germany) in the National Museum Prague

Abstract

The Bromacker locality in Thuringia, Germany is world famous for its exceptionally well-preserved early Permian tetrapod footprints. In this paper, we provide the first detailed description of the Bromacker specimen with diadectomorph footprints that was donated to the National Museum Prague in 1916. The specimen shows more than 80 footprints of six trackways and several incomplete step cycles of different morphological qualities assigned to the ichnotaxon Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum. Apart from its paleoichnological value, the slab is of historic interest as it fits into a long period of about five decades (1908 to 1954) from which there is almost no information on fossil discoveries at the locality.