Tridactyl theropod tracks from Cretaceous of Zhejiang Province, China + Hemipterus forelimb from Cretaceous of Xinjiang, China
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Ben Creisler
Aug 28, 2026, 2:46:36 PM (5 days ago) Aug 28
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Ben Creisler
New papers:
ZHENG Wen-Jie, TSUKIJI Yuta, JIN Xing-Sheng & FU Yan-Fang (2026)
New tridactyl theropod tracks from the Cretaceous Chaochuan Formation, Dongyang, Zhejiang, southeastern China
Vertebrata Palasiatica (advance online publication)
DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.260828
https://www.vertpala.ac.cn/EN/10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.260828
The Cretaceous strata of Zhejiang Province yielded abundant dinosaur bone, egg, and track fossils, documenting diverse terrestrial dinosaur assemblages in southeastern China. Herein we report new tridactyl theropod tracks from the mid-Cretaceous Chaochuan Formation at Shang’antian Village, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province. Two distinct morphotypes of theropod tracks are identified, representing the first record of these ichnotypes in Zhejiang Province. Morphotype 1 is referred to Grallator isp., characterized by small, slender mesaxonic tracks with a high length/width ratio and narrow interdigital divarication. Morphotype 2 is referred to cf. Asianopodus isp., characterized by a prominent metatarsophalangeal pad aligned along the axis of digit III, a lower length/width proportion, and much wider interdigital angles compared with Grallator. Multiple parallel trackways of cf. Asianopodus isp. with consistent orientation and uniform spacing demonstrate gregarious behavior of small-sized arctometatarsalian theropods, likely ornithomimosaurs, during the mid-Cretaceous in southeastern China, representing only the second global record of group behavior in Asianopodus-type theropods. This new track assemblage enriches the Cretaceous dinosaur ichnofossil record of Zhejiang, provides new evidence for regional stratigraphic correlation, and offers new insights into the paleobiology, taxonomic composition, and behavioral ecology of southeastern Chinese mid-Cretaceous theropod communities.
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Free pdf:
ZHENG Wen-Jie, TSUKIJI Yuta, JIN Xing-Sheng & FU Yan-Fang (2026)
New tridactyl theropod tracks from the Cretaceous Chaochuan Formation, Dongyang, Zhejiang, southeastern China
Vertebrata Palasiatica (advance online publication)
DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.260828
https://www.vertpala.ac.cn/EN/10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.260828
The Cretaceous strata of Zhejiang Province yielded abundant dinosaur bone, egg, and track fossils, documenting diverse terrestrial dinosaur assemblages in southeastern China. Herein we report new tridactyl theropod tracks from the mid-Cretaceous Chaochuan Formation at Shang’antian Village, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province. Two distinct morphotypes of theropod tracks are identified, representing the first record of these ichnotypes in Zhejiang Province. Morphotype 1 is referred to Grallator isp., characterized by small, slender mesaxonic tracks with a high length/width ratio and narrow interdigital divarication. Morphotype 2 is referred to cf. Asianopodus isp., characterized by a prominent metatarsophalangeal pad aligned along the axis of digit III, a lower length/width proportion, and much wider interdigital angles compared with Grallator. Multiple parallel trackways of cf. Asianopodus isp. with consistent orientation and uniform spacing demonstrate gregarious behavior of small-sized arctometatarsalian theropods, likely ornithomimosaurs, during the mid-Cretaceous in southeastern China, representing only the second global record of group behavior in Asianopodus-type theropods. This new track assemblage enriches the Cretaceous dinosaur ichnofossil record of Zhejiang, provides new evidence for regional stratigraphic correlation, and offers new insights into the paleobiology, taxonomic composition, and behavioral ecology of southeastern Chinese mid-Cretaceous theropod communities.
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Chao Wang , Junyi Song , Shunxing Jiang & Xiaolin Wang (2026)
A new articulated forelimb of Hamipterus tianshanensis from the Lower Cretaceous of Xinjiang, China
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e2711813
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2711813
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2026.2711813
Hamipterus tianshanensis, a major component of the Early Cretaceous Hami Pterosaur fauna in northwestern China, is represented by numerous three-dimensionally preserved bones, eggs, and embryos. Although exquisitely preserved, most of these elements are disarticulated. Here, we describe an almost complete articulated forelimb of Hamipterus collected from the same stratigraphic horizon as the prior specimens. It shows several novel anatomical features previously unknown in this taxon, including a well-developed flexor tendon process of the proximal syncarpal; ventral surface of the distal syncarpal with a crescent outline; straight proximal portion of the pteroid; metacarpal I articulating with the carpus, coupled with a reduction in metacarpals II and III; unguals short and deep; a large longitudinal pneumatic foramen between the cotyles of the first wing phalanx; an oval pneumatic foramen on the posteroventral surface of the second wing phalanx; and a shallow groove extending along the posteroventral shaft of both the second and third wing phalanges. During ontogeny, all forelimb bones of Hamipterus grew isometrically, or nearly so, except for the antebrachium and the second wing phalanx. In addition, a comparison of the limb bone proportions with other ornithocheiroids reveals that the limb proportions of Hamipterus are more consistent with those of boreopterids and anhanguerids.
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A new articulated forelimb of Hamipterus tianshanensis from the Lower Cretaceous of Xinjiang, China
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e2711813
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2026.2711813
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2026.2711813
Hamipterus tianshanensis, a major component of the Early Cretaceous Hami Pterosaur fauna in northwestern China, is represented by numerous three-dimensionally preserved bones, eggs, and embryos. Although exquisitely preserved, most of these elements are disarticulated. Here, we describe an almost complete articulated forelimb of Hamipterus collected from the same stratigraphic horizon as the prior specimens. It shows several novel anatomical features previously unknown in this taxon, including a well-developed flexor tendon process of the proximal syncarpal; ventral surface of the distal syncarpal with a crescent outline; straight proximal portion of the pteroid; metacarpal I articulating with the carpus, coupled with a reduction in metacarpals II and III; unguals short and deep; a large longitudinal pneumatic foramen between the cotyles of the first wing phalanx; an oval pneumatic foramen on the posteroventral surface of the second wing phalanx; and a shallow groove extending along the posteroventral shaft of both the second and third wing phalanges. During ontogeny, all forelimb bones of Hamipterus grew isometrically, or nearly so, except for the antebrachium and the second wing phalanx. In addition, a comparison of the limb bone proportions with other ornithocheiroids reveals that the limb proportions of Hamipterus are more consistent with those of boreopterids and anhanguerids.
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