Pterosaur Tracks from the Upper Cretaceous Anacleto Formation (Neuquén Basin), Northern Patagonia, Argentina: Insights into Campanian Pterosaur Diversity in Gondwana

The Campanian Anacleto Formation holds an abundant and diverse ichnofossil body-fossil vertebrate record. Despite the striking diversity of this record, pterosaur fossils had never been described from unit. Here, we report four manus tracks fluvial red beds cropping out in Área Natural Protegida Municipal Paso Córdoba (Río Negro Province, northern Patagonia, Argentina). Tracks are longer than wide, tridactyl with digit impressions different lengths (I < II III), anteriorly directed laterally asymmetrical. Being on loose slabs lacking direct examination pes morphology, material is classified as undetermined tracks. new find represents first occurrence pterosaurs lower–middle Argentina one few evidences South America for time interval. In addition, it ichnological records Gondwana, thus shedding light palaeobiogeography clade during latest Cretaceous. Pterosaur allow us to integrate record unit add a component, along birds, flying archosaur fauna coexisting non-avian dinosaurs, notosuchians, chelonians, squamates mammals Patagonia.