Large Carnivore Footprints from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agnolin, Federico L.; Chimento, Nicolás R.; Campo, Denise H.; Magnussen, Mariano; Boh, Daniel; De Cianni, Francisco
• Is Part Of: Ichnos. Volume 26:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Smilodon -- footprints -- pleistocene -- Buenos Aires -- Argentina; Ichnology -- Periodicals; Trace fossils -- Periodicals; 560.5
• DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2018.1479962
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-0940

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present contribution is to describe large felipedid footprints from a new ichnological site from the Late Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The prints are referred as the new ichnospecies Felipeda miramarensis nov. ichnosp. Based on size and morphology, this new ichnotaxon may have been produced by the large machairodontine felid Smilodon populator . Track analysis indicates that the producer of the tracks had fully retractile claws, a plantigrade feet, and lacked strong supination capabilities on pes and manus. The size and depth differences between manus and pes prints indicate that the producer had notably robust anterior limbs. If correctly assigned, the new ichnospecies reinforces the idea that Smilodon was an ambush predatory mammal.