Sauropod tracks of the Cameros Basin (Spain): Identification, trackway patterns and changes over the Jurassic-Cretaceous

Abstract

Sauropod tracks make up only about 2% of the Cameros Basin ichnocenosis, but they are present over the entire time span represented by the Cameros sediments. The makers of these tracks are identified in terms of their associated trackway pattern as either wide or narrow-gauge morphotypes. Narrow-gauge trackways dominate the Tithonian-Berriasian interval. Wide-gauge trackways become notably more common after the Berriasian, although narrow-gauge trackways are still present and dominate the Cameros ecosystems even during the Aptian. At this time, an interesting equilibrium between titanosauriform and non-titanosauriform sauropod trackways is evident, although the latter are somewhat more common. A review of the Iberian sauropod bone record suggests that Turiasauria + Euhelopidae, Rebbachisauridae and Titanosauriformes are the three groups mainly responsible for the Cameros Basin sauropod ichnocenosis.