Unique trackway on Permian Karoo shoreline provides evidence of temnospondyl locomotory behaviour
Groenewald, David (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute)
Krüger, Ashley (Swedish Museum of Natural History)
Day, Michael Oliver (Natural History Museum (Londres, Regne Unit))
Penn-Clarke, Cameron (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute)
Hancox, John P. (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute)
Rubidge, Bruce S. (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute)

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Large-bodied temnospondyl amphibians were the dominant predators in non-marine aquatic ecosystems from the Carboniferous to the Middle Triassic. In the Permian-aged lower Beaufort Group of the main Karoo Basin, South Africa, temnospondyls are represented exclusively by the family Rhinesuchidae and are well represented by body fossils, whereas trace fossils are scarce. Accordingly, most interpretations of the behaviour of this family are based on skeletal morphology and histological data. Here we document the sedimentology and palaeontology of a late Permian palaeosurface situated immediately below the palaeoshoreline of the Ecca Sea (transition from the Ecca Group to the Beaufort Group) near the town of Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The surface preserves numerous ichnofossils, including tetrapod footprints and fish swim-trails, but most striking are seven body impressions and associated swim trails that we attribute to a medium-sized (~1. 9 m long) rhinesuchid temnospondyl. These provide valuable insight into the behaviour of these animals. The sinuous shape of some of the traces suggest that the tracemaker swam with continuous sub-undulatory propulsion of the tail.
Grants:	European Commission 101060666
Note:	L'adreça actual de l'autor David P. Groenewald és l'Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	PloS one, Vol. 18, Issue 3 (March 2023) . art. e0282354, ISSN 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282354
PMID: 36989249

26 p, 11.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
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