甘肃永靖盐锅峡早白垩世翼龙足迹的发现及意义

甘肃永靖盐锅峡恐龙足迹1号化石点中保存有翼龙足迹, 该足迹是我国翼龙足迹的首次发现.翼龙足迹为四足行走, 行迹宽.前脚为不对称三趾型, 趾行式, 其中Ⅱ趾最短, Ⅳ趾最长, 足迹外偏, 偏角大, Ⅳ趾与行迹交角为160°~ 180°.后脚外形为近长方形, 四趾型, Ⅱ、Ⅲ趾较Ⅰ、Ⅳ趾长, 行式, 脚长为宽的3倍, 足迹外偏, 偏角30°.足迹特征表明该翼龙足迹属于一新种.沉积特征表明翼龙足迹产于湖岸环境. 

The First Discovery of the Early Cretaceous Pterosaur Track and Its Significance in Yanguoxia, Yongjing County, Gansu Province

A group of pterosaur trackway is preserved in site 1 of dinosaur tracksite of Yanguoxia, Yongjing County, Gansu Province. The pterosaur trackway is the first one discovered in China. The pterosaur trackway is quadrupedal, with wide gauge. Manus impression is strongly asymmetrical, digitigrade, tridactyl, with three digits impression showing outward rotation; digit Ⅱ is the shortest while digit Ⅳ is the largest. And digit Ⅳ subtends an angle of about 160°-180° relative to the trackway axis. Pes impression is sub-rectangular in shape which is three times longer than the width and tetradactyl with digits Ⅱ and Ⅲ longer than digits Ⅰ and Ⅳ, and outward rotation of about 30° relative to trackway axis. Based on the character of pterosaur tracks, the authors assign them to a new ichnosp. The sedimentology of this site reflects a paleoenvironment of lake shoreline where pterosaur tracks occur.