A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China
Long dinosaur trackways provide valuable records of trackmaker behaviour, yet their study is often hindered by logistical challenges in documentation and analysis. This study addresses these limitations by employing digital methodologies to re-analyse the Lower Cretaceous HX-T3 theropod trackway, or...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Geosciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/165 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850257270084993024 |
|---|---|
| author | Anthony Romilio Lida Xing |
| author_facet | Anthony Romilio Lida Xing |
| author_sort | Anthony Romilio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long dinosaur trackways provide valuable records of trackmaker behaviour, yet their study is often hindered by logistical challenges in documentation and analysis. This study addresses these limitations by employing digital methodologies to re-analyse the Lower Cretaceous HX-T3 theropod trackway, originally mapped in 2015. At nearly 70 m in length, this is the longest documented theropod trackway in China. Using digital mapping, 81 footprints were examined, revealing a consistent southward orientation between 163° and 187° azimuth, a trackway width of 0.008 to 0.300 m, and pace and stride lengths ranging from 0.707 to 1.176 m and 1.408 to 2.043 m, respectively. A potential trackmaker, <i>Yutyrannus</i>, was used to estimate a hip height of 1.13 m in a bent-legged stance, with relative stride values indicating a consistent walking gait at a median speed of 5.3 km/h. A digital life reconstruction animated in a bent-legged stance allowed the translation of ichnological data into a real-time reconstruction of trackmaker locomotion, providing dynamic insight into behavioural movement and avoiding unrealistic limb dislocations associated with straight-leg models. This study highlights the efficacy of digital methods in overcoming field-based limitations, integrating trace and body fossil evidence to enhance previous research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7eab3c0488284a7c93cae120b0fed234 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-7eab3c0488284a7c93cae120b0fed2342025-08-20T01:56:28ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-05-0115516510.3390/geosciences15050165A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, ChinaAnthony Romilio0Lida Xing1School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, AustraliaState Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, ChinaLong dinosaur trackways provide valuable records of trackmaker behaviour, yet their study is often hindered by logistical challenges in documentation and analysis. This study addresses these limitations by employing digital methodologies to re-analyse the Lower Cretaceous HX-T3 theropod trackway, originally mapped in 2015. At nearly 70 m in length, this is the longest documented theropod trackway in China. Using digital mapping, 81 footprints were examined, revealing a consistent southward orientation between 163° and 187° azimuth, a trackway width of 0.008 to 0.300 m, and pace and stride lengths ranging from 0.707 to 1.176 m and 1.408 to 2.043 m, respectively. A potential trackmaker, <i>Yutyrannus</i>, was used to estimate a hip height of 1.13 m in a bent-legged stance, with relative stride values indicating a consistent walking gait at a median speed of 5.3 km/h. A digital life reconstruction animated in a bent-legged stance allowed the translation of ichnological data into a real-time reconstruction of trackmaker locomotion, providing dynamic insight into behavioural movement and avoiding unrealistic limb dislocations associated with straight-leg models. This study highlights the efficacy of digital methods in overcoming field-based limitations, integrating trace and body fossil evidence to enhance previous research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/165digitaltheropodJiaguan FormationCretaceousChina |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Romilio Lida Xing A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China Geosciences digital theropod Jiaguan Formation Cretaceous China |
| title | A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China |
| title_full | A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China |
| title_fullStr | A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China |
| title_short | A Digital Analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracksite, China |
| title_sort | digital analysis of the phoenix trackway at the hanxi cretaceous dinosaur tracksite china |
| topic | digital theropod Jiaguan Formation Cretaceous China |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/165 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anthonyromilio adigitalanalysisofthephoenixtrackwayatthehanxicretaceousdinosaurtracksitechina AT lidaxing adigitalanalysisofthephoenixtrackwayatthehanxicretaceousdinosaurtracksitechina AT anthonyromilio digitalanalysisofthephoenixtrackwayatthehanxicretaceousdinosaurtracksitechina AT lidaxing digitalanalysisofthephoenixtrackwayatthehanxicretaceousdinosaurtracksitechina |