Tracking Jurassic dinosaurs Dr. Mike Romano Sheffield University

Date: Thursday, 8 March 2012
Time: 7:30PM - 9:00PM
Type: Lecture

Dr Mike Romano (Sheffield University)

Dinosaur tracks are abundant in the Middle Jurassic rocks of Yorkshire and indeed characterise the non-marine sequences developed within the Cleveland Basin.  These tracks and associated trackways provide valuable evidence of the possible diversity of the dinosaur communities, their potential makers and behaviour.  The historical development of research into Yorkshire dinosaur tracks is reviewed, and the litho-, bio- and chronostratigraphic framework is outlined.  The probable palaeoenvironment of the Middle Jurassic Cleveland Basin in which these animals lived will be summarised.  An introduction to terminology and preservational types illustrates some of the problems in dealing with dinosaur ichnotaxonomy, including print simulations in the laboratory. The morphological diversity of the Yorkshire tracks will be illustrated, and what this may mean in terms of ichnospecies and animal diversity.  Finally, some case studies will be presented; ranging from ‘swimming dinosaurs’, the ‘Deltapodus’ story (so far) and ‘sauropod speculations’.

The Yorkshire sequence may well qualify as a ’megatracksite’ of global importance, since both dinosaur skeletons and trace fossils are particularly scarce during the Middle Jurassic.