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New Avian tracks from the lower to middle Eocene at Fossil Hill, King George Island, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2012

Héctor G. Mansilla ,
Silvina De Valais ,
Wolfgang Stinnesbeck ,
Natalia A. Varela  and
Marcelo A. Leppe
Héctor G. Mansilla*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Palaeobiología, Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile
Silvina De Valais
Affiliation:
CONICET-Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Isidro Lobo y Belgrano, (8332), General Roca, Río Negro, Argentina
Wolfgang Stinnesbeck
Affiliation:
Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Natalia A. Varela
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Palaeobiología, Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile
Marcelo A. Leppe
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Palaeobiología, Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile
*
mansilla_83@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Trace fossils are long known to exist in the Fossil Hill Formation (lower to middle Eocene) at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. During fieldwork in 2009, abundant new avian tracks were recovered, which are analysed here. Three avian ichnotaxa are distinguished. The most common impressions are tridactyls and tetradactyls with slender digit imprints II–IV and a posterior hallux. They are included in the ichnogenus Gruipeda. In addition tridactyl and tetradactyl footprints with short and thick digit impressions are conferred to Uhangrichnus. The third ichnotaxon is a tridactyl impression with broad and short digits assigned to Avipeda. The latter taxon is here documented for the first time from Antarctica. These avian tracks are preserved in volcaniclastic sediments consisting in reddish-brown layers of mudstone intercalated with coarse sandstone. The sequence represents lacustrine environments which seasonally dried and were episodically refilled.

Keywords

avian footprintsCenozoicGondwanaichnotaxonomy
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 24 , Issue 5 , 13 September 2012 , pp. 500 - 506
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2012

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