The first record of dinosaur track from Hubei Province, Central China

A newly discovered dinosaur tracksite in the Middle Jurassic Xietan Formation of the Zigui Basin, is the first reported from Hubei Province, China. Access to the site is difficult due to the steep inclination (similar to 60 degrees) of the track-bearing beds. The tracks are poorly preserved and occur in a fragmented mudstone substrate. However, it is possible to identify a sauropod trackway and isolated tridactyl (theropod) tracks, suggesting a saurischian dominated ichnofauna. The preserved sauropod trackway falls into the range of a typical wide gauge sequence and, together with the overall shape of the imprints and low heteropody, points to the ichnogenus Brontopodus. The tracks are of relatively small size and can possibly be attributed to juveniles of a large species or, alternatively, to adults of a small species of eusauropods. The tridactyl tracks are incomplete and cannot be assigned to a distinct ichnotaxon with certainty.