Lophiopus, Ellenberger, 1980

Abbassi, Nasrollah, Salehi Tinooni, Mohammad, Ghorbani Dehnavi, Mahdi, Shakeri, Safoora & Eshaghi, Ali, 2024, Oligocene vertebrate footprints from the Lower Red Formation, Central Iran, Fossil Record 27 (2), pp. 265-287 : 265-287

Ichnospecies Lophiopus isp.

Fig. 7 A – C

Material.

One specimen, collected ( IFMI -684 ) .

Description.

One tridactyl footprint preserved as convex hyporelief in the lower bedding plane of the fine-grained, dark-brown sandstone. This bedding plane comprises flute and groove casts. The surface of the footprint is not smooth, and erosional structures encompass the footprint. One of the lateral digits shows three digital pad imprints, and digit III and the other lateral digit imprint are thick and lacking digital pad. The tips of the digits are sharp, the proximal rim of the footprint is curved and the sole imprint is not developed.

Discussion.

Ellenberger, 1980 considered two ichnospecies for Lophiopus , L. lalus and L. rapidus . L. lalus has a marked “ heel mark ” and an elongate digit III, whereas L. rapidus is wider, and its lateral or central digits are more rounded along the tips. No digital pads were mentioned for ichnospecies of Lophiopus . The studied footprints of the Deh Nar area show similar morphology to Lophiopus in their round proximal outline, undeveloped sole imprint and distinct lateral digit imprints.

Figures

Figure 7. A – C. Lophiopus isp. preserved as convex hyporelief with its photogrammetry photo and outline sketch, sampled (IFMI - 684); D – F. Moropopus elongatus preserved as convex hyporelief, including photogrammetric false-color depth map, sampled (IFMI - 685); Moropopus elongatus in lower bedding plane of large slab full of mud crack casts (G); H – I. Close up view of behind footprints with outline sketch; J – K. Front footprint with outline sketch.