The Quaternary record of vertebrate tracks and trackways

Abstract

The focus of the present work is to present a comprehensive assessment of the ichnological studies of the Quaternary formations worldwide, with special emphasis on the ichnotaxonomy and possible producers. The vertebrate record of tracks in Quaternary deposits extends globally, except for Antarctica. A total of 42 ichnogenera and 65 ichnospecies were described in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. 33 new ichnotaxa were originally described from Quaternary deposits. Europe and North America are the continents where the development of ichnology is expected to have a longer history and more findings. Despite a great ichnological potential, Oceania ichnosites have not received any formal ichnotaxonomical assessment, and this only recently started to occur in Africa, with regard to a large number of ichnosites that have been described in South Africa. The Quaternary vertebrate ichnosites have seldom been reported in Asia, and in South America, the studies have been concentrated mostly in the famous ichnosite of Pehuen Co in Argentina, where 20 ichnotaxa have been originally described already.