Were non-avian theropod dinosaurs able to swim? Supportive evidence from an Early Cretaceous trackway, Cameros Basin (La Rioja, Spain)

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2007 Were non-avian theropod dinosaurs able to swim? Supportive evidence from an Early Cretaceous trackway, Cameros Basin (La Rioja, Spain) Rubén Ezquerra; Rubén Ezquerra 1Fundación Patrimonio Paleontológico de La Rioja, 26586 Enciso, La Rioja, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stéfan Doublet; Stéfan Doublet 2Laboratoire Géologie des Systèmes Carbonatés, Université Aix-Marseille, 13331 Marseille Cedex 03, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Loic Costeur; Loic Costeur 3Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique de Nantes, Université de Nantes, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Peter M. Galton; Peter M. Galton 4University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Felix Pérez-Lorente Felix Pérez-Lorente 5Fundación Patrimonio Paleontológico de La Rioja, 26586 Enciso, La Rioja, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2007) 35 (6): 507–510. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23452A.1 Article history received: 15 Oct 2006 rev-recd: 13 Jan 2007 accepted: 17 Jan 2007 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Rubén Ezquerra, Stéfan Doublet, Loic Costeur, Peter M. Galton, Felix Pérez-Lorente; Were non-avian theropod dinosaurs able to swim? Supportive evidence from an Early Cretaceous trackway, Cameros Basin (La Rioja, Spain). Geology 2007;; 35 (6): 507–510. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23452A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A fundamental question remaining unanswered in dinosaur behavior is whether they had the ability to swim. We report the discovery of an exceptional swimming dinosaur trackway, with 12 consecutive footprints, in lacustrine nearshore sediment from the Early Cretaceous Cameros Basin, La Rioja, Spain. The singular morphology of these footprints strongly suggests a floating animal clawing the sediment as it swam. Diagnostic traits of theropod dinosaur footprints are identifiable in these peculiar elongated S-shaped ichnites. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction indicates an upper shoreface setting with a maximum water depth of ∼3 m, substantiating the swimming hypothesis. Ichnological analysis of the trackway shows that this theropod used a pelvic paddle motion, similar to that of modern bipeds, and swam with amplified asymmetrical walking movements to maintain direction into a leftward water current. After recent hints of swimming dinosaurs, this new evidence persuasively demonstrates that some non-avian theropod dinosaurs were swimmers. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.