The Holotypes of Patagonichornis venetiorum Casamiquela 1996 and Tridigitichnus inopinatus Casamiquela 1996 Vertebrate Ichnotaxa (Late Cretaceous, Patagonia): History and Patrimonial Significance

Abstract

The Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) vertebrate ichnotaxa Patagonichornis venetiorum Casamiquela 1996 and Tridigitichnus inopinatus Casamiquela 1996 were established based on material preserved on a sandstone slab from the Angostura Colorada Formation, Montón Iló quarry, Río Negro Province, Patagonia, Argentina. This slab, along with others from the same locality, was used for constructions near Ingeniero Jacobacci town. The holotype-bearing slab is currently housed at the Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia Giancarlo Ligabue (Venice, Italy). This study aims to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding these holotypes. Through visits to the Museo Antropológico e Histórico Jorge H. Gerhold (Ingeniero Jacobacci, Argentina), the original sidewalk from which the slab was removed, was identified. Moreover, nine track-bearing slabs with avian footprints and invertebrate traces were identified on the same sidewalk. Due to limited accessibility of the original descriptions, these ichnotaxa have received little scientific attention. Although P . venetiorum and T . inopinatus remain available names under ICZN regulations, their ichnotaxonomical validity requires further assessment. To highlight their importance as movable paleontological heritage, a detailed report —including descriptions, photographs, and 3D model— was prepared for the Ingeniero Jacobacci and Venice museums. The compiled data serve as a crucial reference for future research and conservation initiatives, promoting their patrimonial, educational, and touristic value. This work underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for the study and preservation of paleontological heritage.

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