ASGP (2025), vol. 95: 179–188

DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION OF THEROPOD TRACKS FROM THE BERRIASIAN TIDAL FLATS OF THE SOUTH-IBERIAN PALAEOMARGIN (INTERNAL PREBETIC, S SPAIN)

Matías REOLID (1*) & Javier CARDENAL (2)

1) Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain; e-mail: mreolid@ujaen.es
2) Departamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica, Geodésica y Fotogrametría, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain; e-mail: jcardena@ujaen.es
*) Corresponding author

Reolid, M. & Cardenal, J., 2025. Description and interpretation of theropod tracks from the Berriasian tidal flats of the South-Iberian Palaeomargin (Internal Prebetic, S Spain). Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 95: 179–188.

Abstract: The study of the lower Berriasian (Lower Cretaceous) of the Sierra del Pozo (Internal Prebetic, Betic Cordillera) has made possible the discovery of three dinosaur tracks that correspond to the digitigrade footprints (28.7 to 26.1 cm long and 19.9 to 21.4 cm wide) of mesaxonic tridactyls. The tracks are located at the top of two shallowing-upwards sequences with desiccation-related mud cracks that correspond to supratidal facies. The trackmakers were medium-sized theropods, on the basis of the prints record, the claws, the elongated digits and the low interdigital angles. This is the only record at the South-Iberian Palaeomargin of theropod tracks, which are relatively scarce, compared to the Lower Cretaceous of other Iberian Palaeomargins.

Manuscript received 11 April 2025, accepted 14 October 2025