Abstract
ABSTRACT This investigation uses archival data (circa 1954) to elucidate new details on Australia’s first scientifically described dinosaur trackway, located at the Fireclay Caverns-Site A, Mount Morgan, Queensland. A high-resolution archival photograph reveals two additional prints, extending the known sequence from four to six tracks. Leveraging this extended dataset, we have quantified temporospatial variations to assess the trackmaker’s locomotion. Our findings reveal a decrease in stride and step lengths towards the end of the trackway, accompanied by a slight directional shift from east-southeast to east and a reduction in walking speed from a maximum of 3.8–1.8 km/hr. The life reconstruction animation of the Fireclay Caverns-Site A trackmaker supports the walking gait calculated from the relative stride data and demonstrates biomechanically plausible limb movements. By incorporating non-traditional methods, such as temporal trackway analysis and its translation as a trackmaker animation, we establish a broader framework for conventional ichnological studies. This approach enhances our interpretation of the dynamic record encapsulated in fossil trackways, enabling us to visualise and scientifically scrutinise the behaviour of extinct trackmakers.
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