Vertebrate tracksites in the Obernkirchen Sandstone (late Berriasian, Early Cretaceous) of northwest Germany— their stratigraphical, palaeogeographical, palaeoecological, and historical context

• DOI: 10.1007/s12542-012-0131-7
• Publication Date: 2012-03-13T10:57:37Z
• Authors: Jahn J. Hornung; Annina Böhme; Torsten van der L...; Mike Reich; Annette Richter
• Keywords: Outcrop; Ostracod; Palaeogeography; Paleoecology

The northern German Lower Cretaceous Bückeberg Formation yields numerous dinosaur tracksites, some of which have produced material impressive quality. Stratigraphically, the localities are concentrated in Obernkirchen Sandstone, a thin subunit within this formation. Sandstone represents mainly sandy barrier to back-barrier and lagoonal setting limnic deltaic facies complex, was deposited during late Berriasian (Cypridea alta formosa ostracod subzone) southeast Saxony Basin, northwest Germany. A few tracksites occur more proximally coeval fluvial deposits. Dinosaur footprint assemblages were left by ornithopods, theropods, sauropods, ankylosaurs, small, bipedal ornithischians. Other vertebrate tracks those turtles and, possibly, crocodilians. Due decrease sandstone quarrying recent decades, many old inaccessible today. Additionally, historical descriptions highly variable quality often published remote today nearly unobtainable sources. Here we provide catalogue 13 compiled from literature new observations. Of these only five still accessible currently under study. Descriptions each locality provided, with comprehensive compilation existing data on lithofacies, stratigraphy, palaeogeography palaeoecology equivalent strata. short review track-bearing lithofacies assemblage indicates that outcrop areas distinctly different environments, therefore, horizons can be correlated stratigraphically between adjacent outcrops. For reason, identification megatracksite is regarded as premature uncertain.