Archaeornithipus

Archaeornithipus
Trace fossil classification Edit this classification
Ichnogenus: †Archaeornithipus
Fuentes Vidarte, 1996

Archaeornithipus was a genus of large bird ichnogenus discovered in Spain. The tracks date back to the Berriasian stage of the Cretaceous, making them among the oldest bird trace fossils in the world. However, a 2026 study found the type ichnospecies, based on penetrative tracks to be a nomem dubium.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Lockley, M.G.; Janke, P.; Theisen, L. (2001-01-01). "Bird Tracks". In Tanke, Darren H.; Carpenter, Kenneth; Skrepnick, Michael William (eds.). Mesozoic Vertebrate Life. Indiana University Press. p. 447. ISBN 9780253339072.
  2. ↑ Lallensack, Jens N.; Pérez-Lorente, Félix; Amzil, Mustapha; Oukassou, Mostafa; Meyer, Christian; Saber, Hafid; Klein, Hendrik; Charriére, André; Zafaty, Omar; Falkingham, Peter L. (2026-01-13). "The abundance and diversity of penetrative tracks: a critical re-evaluation of theropod ichnotaxa". Historical Biology: 1–19. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2610322. ISSN 0891-2963.