First Early Jurassic Ornithischian and theropod footprint assemblage and a new ichnotaxon Shenmuichnus wangi ichnosp. nov. from Yunnan Province, southwestern China.

The new ichnospecies,Shenmuichnus wangiichnosp. nov., is the first evidence for the presence of large ornithischians in the Early Jurassic of Yunnan Province, whereas the known skeletal record documents small species only. Until nowShenmuichnuswas known from a single locality in Shaanxi Province by the ichnospeciesShenmuichnus youngteilhardorum. Compared with the latter,Shenmuichnus wangiis larger and shows a different trackway configuration, particularly in the relative position of manus and pes imprints. Palecologically, the occurrence ofShenmuichnus wangiin a red bed facies indicates the preference of distinctive environments of trackmakers of both ichnospecies, questioning former hypotheses of exclusivity of ornithischians in more humid climates. By abundance both skeletons and footprints of ornithischians suggest their role as a minor component in Early Jurassic saurischian dominated dinosaur faunas in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]