Selected studies on terrestrial vertebrate palaeoichnology of western Canada

A significant surge in the discovery of fossil vertebrate tracksites in western Canada, particularly in Alberta and British Columbia, has revealed groundbreaking insights into prehistoric animal behavior. Notable findings include the first recorded sauropod tracks in Canada, evidence of herding behavior among tyrannosaurs and ankylosaurs, and avian track sites spanning nearly the entire Cretaceous Period. Pathologies observed in footprints have also provided unique data on extinct species' health and biomechanics. These discoveries, drawn from formations like the Mountain Park Member of the Gates Formation and the Wapiti Formation, are filling critical gaps in the skeletal record of terrestrial vertebrates. The study highlights the spatial distribution of tracksites, with older sites concentrated around British Columbia's Rocky Mountains and younger ones in the Foothills and Plains regions. This research underscores the importance of ichnology in understanding extinct animals' behavior and ecology, offering a more comprehensive picture than skeletal remains alone.

McCrea, R. T. (2016). Selected studies on terrestrial vertebrate palaeoichnology of western Canada [University of Alberta Library]. https://doi.org/10.7939/R3SJ1B01H