Dinosaur track sites from Portugal and its significance as natural

Dinosaur track sites from Portugal and its significance as natural heritage
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Vanda Faria dos Santos , Fernando Barriga , A. M. Galopim de Carvalho ,
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Lia M. Mergulhão , C. Monteiro , Sofia C. Silveira , Maria J. Fernandes , Jose M. Alho , Raul Coelho
Pedra da Mua / Upper Jurassic
Dinosaur footprints are known
Some sauropod trackways have well
from dozens of track levels
preserved pes print impressions showing
from the Middle Jurassic
claw marks.
through the Late Cretaceous of
There are also theropod trackways.
Portugal.
There is a good evidence for a herd of at least seven small sauropods.
Three of these track sites
Trackways from three larger sauropods reveal that their
are of outstanding value due to
trackmakers were all progressing in the same direction.
its scientific meaning.
There is also evidence of irregular or limping behaviour
in both a sauropod and a theropod trackways.
Galinha tracksite / Middle Jurassic
Vale de Meios/ Middle Jurassic
At Vale de Meios there are dozens of theropod trackways,
some of them displaying similar travel directions.
This site provides key evidence of
theropod foot structure, locomotion
and behaviour, contributing with
valuable data to improve our
knowledge of Middle Jurassic
dinosaur communities.
At Galinha track site there are long and wide-gauge
sauropod trackways and some of them have manus and
pes prints with unique morphologies that allowed a new
sauropod ichnotaxon to be described and yielded
information about the display of the metacarpals
suggesting an intermediate stage of manus structure,
unknown before the discovery of the Galinha tracksite.
Due to their scientific value, track site
accessibility and outstanding natural
scenery, these sites possess exceptional
outstanding value for geological and
palaeontological public outreach.
Increasing awareness of the population to
The National Museum of Natural History and the authority responsible
the significance of the fossil track record
for the management of this palaeontological heritage (Institute of
will generate added recognition of its value
Nature Conservation and Biodiversity) work together providing the
as natural heritage in their region.
continuous studies and the means for geoconservation of these sites.
1 - Museu Nacional de História Natural. Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58. 1269-102 Lisboa. PORTUGAL. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
2 - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e da Biodiversidade, Rua de Santa Marta, 55, 1169-230 Lisboa.PORTUGAL. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
3 - Câmara Municipal de Ourém, Praça do Município, 2490 Ourém. PORTUGAL. [email protected]
4 - Escola EB/S Artur Gonçalves, Av. Sá Carneiro, 2350 Torres Novas. PORTUGAL. [email protected]