Synaptichnium tracks with skin impressions from the Anisian (middle Triassic) of the Southern alps (val di non ‐ Italy)

Abstract

In Val di Non (northern Italy), siltstones of Anisian age (middle Triassic) yield archosaurian and other reptilian tracks which show excellent details of their scaly plantar and palmar surfaces. The ichnofauna includes Rhynchosauroides, Chirotherium, Brachichiroth‐erium, Isochirotherium and Synaptichnium as well as tracks which can be ascribed to procolophonid reptiles and arthropod trails. The excellent preservation of scale imprints shows that the epidermal morphology of Synaptichnium differs from that of chirotheriids, and bears similarities to the lepidosauria. This observation is further proof of the primitive character of “chiroth‐eriid”; Synaptichnium, which is evident from both the pes anatomy and skin cover. Therefore the discovery of well‐preserved skin imprints at Gampenpass poses the question whether the classification of the ichnoge‐nus Synaptichnium should be revised.