The first probable deinonychosaur tracks from Canada

[Paleoworld-101]

Hey guys! My first scientific publication has just been released online by the journal Geological Magazine in association with Cambridge University Press (see link below). 

My study describes the first probable deinonychosaur tracks from Canada, which my colleagues and I found and documented at a large dinosaur tracksite (about 72.5 million years old) near the city of Grande Prairie in Alberta, Canada. Four traces occur in possible trackway association, while another isolated track that is in exactly the same direction is located nearby on the same bedding plane, suggestive of at least two individuals (although we cannot say whether any sort of pack behavior was occurring). The two most complete tracks are didactyl, meaning they preserve only two toe impressions. Based on this, the size of the tracks and their occurrence within dinosaur-bearing strata of Late Cretaceous age, we conclude the tracks most likely pertain to a small deinonychosaur of some kind as these dinosaurs walked primarily on digits III and IV, with the second toe (digit II) being raised off the ground and bearing the enlarged "killing claw". Based on the relative shortness of digit IV compared to digit III in our new tracks, we also suggest the trackmakers were more likely to be troodontids rather than dromaeosaurids, as troodontids generally possessed a digit IV that was somewhat shorter than that of a typical dromaeosaurid. Within the rocks where these tracks were found (in Unit 4 of the Wapiti Formation), teeth of troodontids are fairly common at some sites, so although the discovery of their tracks is certainly novel it was also not completely unexpected. 

 

The paper is paywalled, i apologize for that, which is why i have provided a short summary above. If you are studying at an educational institution though you may be able to gain access that way. 

 

Probable deinonychosaur tracks from the Upper Cretaceous Wapiti Formation (upper Campanian) of Alberta, Canada | Geological Magazine | Cambridge Core

[PaleoNoel]

Congratulations on your first publication! Awesome discovery and work! Love seeing new fossils associated with a very interesting family of dinosaurs. Here's to many more down the road!

My Judith River Troodontid tooth.

[Fossildude19]

A related article HERE.

From article:

 

 

Image from the paper :