Abstract
In tetrapod ichnology, the morphologic quality of tracks is widely termed preservation, including both formational and post-formational processes; this study follows this interpretation. The term undertrack is generally referred to poorly-preserved tracks found on the underlying layers of the actual trampled surface, which usually shows better-preserved tracks. This study, using the most recent concepts and techniques in tetrapod ichnology, aims to give a significant contribution to the understanding of the undertrack formation. The studied material includes some large temnospondyl tracks from the Early Permian of the Lodève Basin (France), a trackway type material of Opisthopus and a pes-manus couple type material of Laoporoides (nomen vanum), both assigned to Limnopus. These specimens show a peculiar feature: manual footprints that are more distinct, more complete, deeper and classifiable (better-preserved) on the underlying layers (up to two underlying layers) compared to the actual trampled surface, which shows shallower, indistinct and unclassifiable manual tracks (poorly-preserved). Pedal tracks on the actual trampled surface are deformed and thus unclassifiable (poorly-preserved), and nearly non-impressed in the underlying layers. This is probably the result of the trackmaker differential weight of manual and pedal impressions on water-saturated fine-grained laminated sediments. This is the first convincing fossil evidence of a better preservation of the undertracks in certain substrate conditions, confirming what is known from laboratory experiments. As a consequence, caution is suggested in the interpretation of undertracks and surface tracks, and the term undertrack should not be used as a synonym for poorly-preserved tetrapod tracks, although these terms often coincide.
Resumen
En icnología de tetrápodos, la calidad morfológica de las pisadas es ampliamente denominada en base a la preservación, incluyendo ambos procesos de formación y post-formación; este estudio sigue esta interpretación. El término subimpresión se refiere generalmente a pisadas pobremente preservadas encontradas en capas subyacentes de la actual superficie donde se hallan las icnitas, que usualmente muestran pisadas mejor preservadas. Este estudio, usando los conceptos y técnicas más actuales en icnología de tetrápodos, persigue dar una notable contribución a la compresión de la formación de la subimpresión. El material estudiado incluye algunas pisadas de grandes temnospóndilos del Pérmico Inferior de la Cuenca de Lodève (Francia), el rastro de material tipo de Opisthopus y una pareja de pie-mano del material tipo de Laoporoides (nomen vanum), ambos asignados a Limnopus. Estos especímenes muestran un carácter peculiar: pisadas de manos que son más claras, más completas, profundas y clasificables (mejor preservadas) en las capas subyacentes (hasta dos capas subyacentes) comparadas con las superficies actuales con pisadas, las cuales muestran pisadas de manos más superficiales, menos claras y inclasificables (pobremente preservadas). Las icnitas de pies en la superficie actual con pisadas están deformadas y, consecuentemente, inclasificables (pobremente preservadas), y prácticamente no impresas en las capas subyacentes. Este hecho es probablemente el resultado de la diferencia de peso del productor entre las impresiones de mano y pie en sedimentos laminados saturados de agua y de grano fino. Este es la primera clara evidencia fosil de la mejor preservación de las subimpresiones en ciertas condiciones de sustratos, confirmando lo que era conocido a través de experimentos de laboratorio. Como consecuencia, se sugiere precaución en la interpretación de las subimpresiones y las superficies con pisadas, y el término subimpresión no debería ser usado como sinónimo de pisadas de tetrápodos pobremente preservadas, aunque estos términos a veces coinciden.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank N.E. Jalil (National Museum of Natural History, Paris) L. Marivaux S. Jiquel (University of Montpellier) for the access to the collection and help during my study; the editors of the volume J.S. Steyer and J. Fortuny; E. Mujal, G. Gand and an anonymous reviewer for the useful discussion. This study was financed by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
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Marchetti, L. Can undertracks show higher morphologic quality than surface tracks? Remarks on large amphibian tracks from the Early Permian of France. J Iber Geol 45, 353–363 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-018-0080-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-018-0080-4