Anomoepus

Anomoepus

Temporal Range: Early Jurassic

Trace fossil classification
Ichnoclass: Reptilipedia
Ichnomagnorder: †Ornithischipida
Ichnoorder: †Ornithischipedida
Ichnofamily: †Anomoepodidae
Ichnogenus: †Anomoepus
Hitchcock, 1848
Type ichnospecies
A. scambus
Hitchcock, 1848
Ichnospecies

26, see text

Synonyms
  • Corvipes Hitchcock, 1858
  • Masititrisauropodiscus Ellenberger, 1974
  • Moyenisauropus Ellenberger, 1974
  • Trisauropodiscus Ellenberger, 1970

Anomoepus gracillimus is the name assigned to fossil footprints first reported from Early Jurassic beds of the Connecticut River Valley, Massachusetts, USA in 1802.

Map showing tracks of Anomoepus (green) and Grallator (blue) in Moyeni

All four feet have left impressions. The smaller forefeet have five toes, whereas the larger hind feet have three toes. There is also an impression which might indicate where the creature rested. The footprints were discovered, amongst others, by a farm boy, Pliny Moody. E.B. Hitchcock, a clergyman, described the Anomoepus footprints and others as evidence of ancient birds. They have since been identified as belonging to a dinosaur, probably an ornithischian, as indicated by the number of toes and the absence of claws on the rear digits. Trackways assigned to Anomoepus from Western Australia have also been described. Anomoepus is the name of the footprint, not of the dinosaur, the identity of which remains unknown.

Ichnospecies

See also

References

    Edwin H. Colbert, Dinosaurs, Hutchinson & Co. Ltd, 1962, p. 188

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