Digital Analysis of the longest dinosaur trackway (CA6) from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Rotzo Formation, Coste dell’Anglone, Trentino-Alto Adige, Northern Italy

Anthony Romilio^1,2
1Advancement and Community Engagement, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
²School of the Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia.
Corresponding author e-mail: a.romilio@uq.edu.au

Long dinosaur trackways, tens to hundreds of metres in length, provide valuable insights into the locomotor behaviour, and biomechanics of extinct taxa, but remain underrepresented in ichnological studies due to the logistical challenges of their documentation and analysis. Applying novel digital analyses of published trackway maps may offer an opportunity to overcome these challenges. This study demonstrates the use of semi-automatic digital methodologies in evaluating the longest dinosaur trackway in Italy, the eighty-metre-long CA6 (theropodan) trackway from the Coste dell’Anglone tracksite (Trentino-Alto Adige, Northern Italy). Employing a suite of custombuilt Python scripts within the open-source 3D software Blender, an exhaustive set of both traditional and nontraditional trackway parameters and trackmaker biometrics, can be calculated. The findings highlight how digital tools can provide a comprehensive framework for analysing challenging trackways, such as those of considerable length, contributing to a deeper understanding of extinct trackmaker taxa and offering the potential to refine ichnological standards and practices.

digital ichnology, footprints, theropod, Early Jurassic, Italy.