"Taylor SE" Area

Introduction

"G" and "H" Trails. Most prints in these trails show full or partial metatarsal impressions and distinct hallux marks. although one distinct digitigrade (non-metatarsal) track is also included. The G and H trails may be connected, but an area of poor preservation between them makes this difficult to confirm.

"M" Trail. This trail intersects the H Trail near H5, and contains several large, infilled three-toed tracks lacking metatarsal or digit impressions. Those that enter a heavily scoured area near the center of the river occur on raised mounds, indicating that the infilled tracks have strengthed the limestone immediately around them, helping them resist erosion. These tracks were probably made by the carnivorous, theropod dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus.

"D" Trail (Ornithopod Tracks). Unlike sharp toed theropod tracks, the well infilled tracks in this sequence have shorter and blunter digits, are at least as wide as they are long, and show well rounded posteriors, indentifying them as ornithopod (bipedal, plant-eating dinosaur) tracks. They are virtually identical in size and shape to those in the "A" trail at the Taylor Site proper, and are heading in the essentially the same direction. They may even be a continuation of the same trail, but the severely eroded area between the two sequences makes this difficult to confirm.

"L" Trail Another trail of infilled metatarsal tracks, some with hallux marks. The first several show almost no relief (are essentially flat), and must be well cleaned for them to be seen (by virtual of the infilling color and texture), whereas others show moderate to pronounced positive (raised) relief.

For more information on metatarsal tracks and infilling phenomena, see: