First dinosaur tracks from the Arabian Peninsula.

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Ichnology
• Vertebrate Paleontology

Background:

• The evolutionary history of Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrates in the Arabian Peninsula is poorly understood, with limited fossil evidence.
• Vast geological exposures in the region have yielded few described fossils.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the discovery of a multi-taxon dinosaur track assemblage in the Republic of Yemen.
• To establish the first dinosaur tracksite and the only multi-taxon dinosaur ichnosite in the Middle East.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of trackway impressions using standard ichnological conventions.
• Identification of trackmaker types based on pes and manus morphology, including digit shape, posterior margins, and stance.
• Documentation of trackway patterns, such as parallel trackways indicating herd behavior.

Main Results:

• Identification of ornithopod dinosaur tracks characterized by rounded posterior margins, lack of hallux, and specific digital divarication angles.
• Discovery of eleven parallel quadrupedal trackways attributed to a herd of non-titanosauriform neosauropods, including individuals of varying sizes.
• Preservation of additional isolated tracks and trackways of both sauropod and ornithopod dinosaurs.

Conclusions:

• The dinosaur tracksite provides crucial insights into the evolutionary history of dinosaurs in the Arabian Peninsula.
• This discovery holds significant temporal and geographic importance due to the scarcity of Mesozoic terrestrial records from the region.
• Abundant similar-aged rock outcrops nearby suggest substantial potential for future paleontological discoveries.