''Tridentichnus'' is an
ichnogenus
An ichnotaxon (plural ichnotaxa) is "a taxon based on the fossilized work of an organism", i.e. the non-human equivalent of an artifact. ''Ichnotaxa'' comes from the Greek ίχνος, ''ichnos'' meaning ''track'' and ταξις, ''taxis'' meaning ...
of fossil footprints. The ''Tridentichnus'' trackmaker was a relatively large animal with five toes on its hind feet.
They are preserved in the
Supai Formation
The Supai Group is a slope-forming section of red bed deposits found in the Colorado Plateau. The group was laid down during the Pennsylvanian to Lower Permian. Cliff-forming interbeds of sandstone are noticeable throughout the group. The Supai ...
and located in
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...
.
The ichnospecies ''
Steganoposaurus belli
''Steganoposaurus'' is an ichnogenus of fossil reptile footprints. The ichnospecies ''Steganoposaurus belli'', was erected for footprints discovered in Wyoming's Tensleep Sandstone. The find was first reported to the scientific literature by Edw ...
'' are similar footprints preserved in the
Tensleep Sandstone
The Tensleep Sandstone is a geological formation of Pennsylvanian to very early Permian age in Wyoming.
The formation is composed of fine- to medium-grained sandstone, light gray and yellowish gray; generally slightly to moderately calcareous; so ...
of
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the sou ...
.
Footnotes
References
* Lockley, Martin and Hunt, Adrian. '' Dinosaur Tracks of Western North America''. Columbia University Press. 1999.
Vertebrate trace fossils
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