Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Not Arizonasaurus, but Postosuchus, made the giant Isochirotherium tracks

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


A recent paper by Diedrich (2015) purported to match the Arizonasaurus to giant Isochirotherium tracks from the Middle Triassic of Germany (Fig. 1).

The problem is,
no manus or pes are known for Arizonasaurus. Furthermore, all related taxa in the large reptile tree have digit 3 the longest, and all digits are elongate. The giant Isochirotherium tracks indicate that both digits 2 and 3 are the longest, and they are short. So matching candidates have to be found elsewhere, not close to Arizonoasaurus (although the size and time are right!).

Among the 504 taxa in the large reptile tree that are possible candidates with digits 2 and 3 the longest are Erythrosuchus (Fig. 1), Shansisuchus, Lotosaurus and the Postosuchus alisonae (Peyer 2008, Fig. 1). It turns out that only the latter is the best match when scaled up to the size of P. kirkpatrchicki (Chatterjee 1985, Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Giant Isochirotherium tracks matched to Postosuchus alisonae scaled up to the size of P. kirkpatrcki. Click to enlarge. This taxon was not considered originally because it is Late Triassic and the tracks are Middle Triassic. 

Postosuchus was not mentioned in the text
because Diedrich (recent email) knew Postosuchus was Late Triassic, not Middle Triassic. He did not accept the idea that between the origin, radiation and extinction of Postosuchus there might have been a Middle Triassic relative.

Diedrich also saw the small manus tracks and assumed they were produced by a large poposaurid. Unfortunately, Arizonasaurus does not nest with poposaurids either. And poposaurids, other than Lotosaurus, do not match the track morphology.

It would have been helpful,
I suppose, to do what I did and make a list of possible candidates from a large list, AND THEN delete the possible candidates one by one as bad matches. Other than that phylogenetic bracketing mismatch, Diedrich does good work with excellent graphics. It took a leap of faith, I suppose to match tracks to a taxon for which no manus or foot is known.

References
Chatterjee S 1985. Postosuchus, a new Thecodontian reptile from the Triassic of Texas and the origin of Tyrannosaurs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 309 (1139): 395–460. doi:10.1098/rstb.1985.0092.
Diedrich C 2015.
Isochirotherium trackways, their possible trackmakers (?Arizonasaurus): intercontinental giant archosaur migrations in the Middle Triassic tsunami-influenced carbonate intertidal mud flats of the European Germanic Basin  Carbonates and Evaporites  DOI 10.1007/s13146-014-0228-z
Novak SE 2004. A new specimen of Postosuchus from the Late Triassic Coelophysis Quarry, siltstone member, Chinle Formation, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. M.S. thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Peyer K Carter, JG, Sues H-D, Novak SE, and Olsen PE 2008. A new Suchian Archosaur from the Upper Triassic of North Carolina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28 (2): 363–381. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[363:ANSAFT]2.0.CO;2.


Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/not-arizonasaurus-but-postosuchus-made-the-giant-isochirotherium-tracks/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.