Some Observations on the Dinosaur Tracks at Münchehagen (Lower Cretaceous), Germany

Abstract

Dinosaur tracks at the Dinosaurier-Freilichtmuseum Munchehagen are well-known and are the reason the site is designated part of the German National Monument system. Although both sauropod and ornithopod tracks have been described in some detail, additional observations are presented herein. These include observations on the gauge and heteropody of sauropods and evidence for quadrupedal progression by ornithopods. Theropod tracks are also recorded in the region at this time and have proven to be taxonomically controversial. Most of the in situ tracks on the “main” surface are those of sauropods preserved on a single large ripple-marked sandstone bedding plane. The sauropod tracks are nearly parallel but the trackmakers were evidently going in two different directions and therefore not travelling together. The presence of ornithopod tracks in close stratigraphic proximity to the main sauropod track layer, (and perhaps on the same layer) is interesting and raises questions about the close spatial and tempora...