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Dinosaur Tracks in Lower Jurassic Coastal Plain Sediments (Sose Bugt Member, Rønne Formation) on Bornholm, Denmark

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Dinosaur Tracks in Lower Jurassic Coastal Plain Sediments (Sose Bugt Member, Rønne Formation) on Bornholm, Denmark Dinosaur tracks in Lower Jurassic coastal plain sediments (Sose Bugt Member, Rønne Formation) on Bornholm, Denmark LARS B. CLEMMENSEN, JESPER MILAN, GUNVER K. PEDERSEN, ANNE B. JOHANNESEN AND CONNIE LARSEN Clemmensen, L.B., Milan, J., Pedersen, G.K., Johannesen, A.B. & Larsen, C. 2014: Dinosaur tracks in Lower Jurassic coastal plain sediments (Sose Bugt Member, Rønne Formation) on Bornholm, Denmark. Lethaia,Vol. 47, pp. 485–493. Fluvial palaeochannels of coastal plain sediments of the Lower Jurassic Sose Bugt Member of the Rønne Formation exposed in the coastal cliffs at Sose Bugt, Bornholm, contain abundant dinosaur or other large vertebrate tracks in the form of deformation structures exposed in vertical section. The tracks are represented by steep-walled, flat- to-concave-bottomed depressions, with a raised ridge at each side. The tracks are filled with laminated sediments, draping the contours of the bottom of the depression. Un- derprints, stacked concave deformations beneath the prints, are present beneath each track. Contemporary Upper Triassic – Lower Jurassic strata from southern Sweden and Poland contain a diverse track fauna, supporting our interpretation. This is the earliest evidence of dinosaur activity in Denmark. □ Bornholm, coastal plain, dinosaur tracks, lake sediments, Lower Jurassic. Lars B. Clemmensen [[email protected]], Jesper Milan [[email protected]], Anne B. Joh- annesen [[email protected]], and Connie Larsen [[email protected]], Depart- ment for Geosciences and Natural Resource Managements, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark; Jesper Milan [[email protected]], Geomuseum Faxe/Østsjællands Museum, Østervej 2, DK-4640 Faxe, Denmark; Gunver K. Pedersen [[email protected]], GEUS Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark; manuscript received on 12/04/2013; manuscript accepted on 04/12/2013. Outcrops of terrestrial Mesozoic sediments in Den- and jawbone fragments of actinopterygians, post- mark are restricted to a few scattered exposures cranial remains of amphibians and primitive lizards, along the southwest coast of the Baltic Island of small dromaeosaurid dinosaurs and perhaps bird Bornholm (Fig. 1). Despite the very limited extent teeth, and a single tooth of a multi-tuberculate mam- of the exposures, an increased interest and intensive mal (Lindgren et al. 2004, 2008; Rees et al. 2005; field studies during the last decade have yielded evi- Schwarz-Wings et al. 2009). In contrast to the dimin- dence of a relatively diverse fauna of terrestrial verte- utive body fossils, a trample ground with abundant brates, from Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous cross-sections through large dinosaur tracks (up to deposits (Fig. 2). 70 cm in length), and possible lungfish aestivation To date, the earliest evidence of dinosaur activity burrows have been described from an adjacent expo- comes from the Middle Jurassic Baga Formation sure in the coastal cliff (Surlyk et al. 2008). (Gravesen et al. 1982) (Fig. 2), exposed in the aban- The overlying Jydegaard Formation (Fig. 2), doned Hasle Klinker Factory clay pit at Baga, at the known from inland quarries, has yielded dromaeo- coast between Hasle and Rønne. This pit has yielded saurian teeth, Dromaeosaurides bornholmensis and a a diverse dinosaur ichnofauna comprising large and possible tooth crown from a juvenile sauropod small tracks of sauropods, thyreophoreans and (Bonde & Christiansen 2003; Christiansen & Bonde theropods but no body fossils (Milan & Bromley 2003), as well as fragments from carapaces of turtles, 2005; Milan 2011). teeth of the crocodile Pholidosaurus, and abundant The lowermost Cretaceous Rabekke Formation, teeth and scales of the holostean fish Lepidotes and exposed in a coastal cliff east of Arnager (Gravesen the freshwater shark Hybodus and some pycnodont et al. 1982) (Fig. 2), has recently yielded remains of a jaws, small stem-teleosteans and coprolites (Noe- rich fauna of micro-vertebrates including abundant Nygaard et al. 1987; Noe-Nygaard & Surlyk 1988; crocodile teeth (Bernissartia sp., Theriosuchessp.,and Rees 2001; Bonde 2004; Milan et al. 2012). For a Goniopholis sp.), fragments of turtle carapaces, scales complete review of the Mesozoic vertebrate faunas, DOI 10.1111/let.12073 © 2014 Lethaia Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd 486 Clemmensen et al. LETHAIA 47 (2014) A B C Fig. 1. A, geological map of Bornholm (map modified from Graversen 2009). Localities with dinosaur tracks are indicated with dots; the locality at Sose Bugt with newly recognized dinosaur tracks is described in the article. B, detailed geological map of the Sose Bugt area. C, location of Bornholm in a broader geographical context. including the marine fauna of Bornholm, see Bonde found in the Late Cretaceous Asen locality in the (2012). Kristianstad Basin (Lindgren et al. 2007) (Fig. 2). In Early Jurassic environments similar to those on addition to the ichnofauna, a few dinosaurian verte- Bornholm are known to have supported a rich dino- brae have been found in the same level as the tracks saur fauna in nearby Scania, southern Sweden, from Billesholm coal mine (Bolau€ 1954). which was connected to Bornholm during most of During a recent field course, deformation struc- the Mesozoic (Surlyk et al.1995; Michelsen et al. tures were observed in the Lower Jurassic Sose Bugt 2003). The Late Triassic – Early Jurassic Hogan€ €as Member of the Rønne Formation (Gravesen et al. Formation has yielded tracks and trackways of the- 1982; Surlyk et al. 1995) at the type section in Sose ropod and possible thyreophorean dinosaurs as well Bugt on the south coast of Bornholm (Fig. 1). The as a few indeterminate skeletal remains (Bolau€ 1952, deformation structures showed many of the charac- 1954; Pleijel 1975; Ahlberg & Siverson 1991; Gierlin- teristics known from vertebrate tracks emplaced in ski & Ahlberg 1994; Milan & Gierlinski 2004), and soft sediment and exposed in cross-section (e.g. remains of neoceratopsian dinosaurs have been Loope 1986; Allen 1997; Milan & Bromley 2006, LETHAIA 47 (2014) Dinosaur tracks in Denmark 487 System Fennoscandian Border Zone Material and methods Stage Series NWSkåne SE Bornholm U Jydegård Formation Six detailed sedimentological sections were mea- Valanginian L sured along a c. 50-m-long coastal cliff at Sose Vita- Robbe- Lower U bäck dale Formation Bugt. Within these sections, we recognize eight sed- Ryazanian Cretaceous Clay L Rabekke Formation imentary units and correlate them across the profile U Annero (Fig. 3). Continued coastal erosion ensures the Volgian M Fm Nytorp availability of good exposures, and the deformation Sand L structures described here were seen after a year with r e U p Kimmeridgian p particularly severe erosion. However, landslides may Annero Fm Annero U L Fyle- dalen frequently cover large parts of the formation, mak- U Clay Oxfordian M ing it difficult to measure complete sedimentologi- L cal logs. The deformation structures occur in four U main levels; we here focus on deformation struc- Callovian Fortuna M Marl – L tures 1 8 in the uppermost two levels (Fig. 3). ? ? U Glass These structures were cleaned with hand-held m Bathonian M F Sand l scrapers and photographed. Based on photographs Vilhelmsfält a Mb L d e Fm i r and field notes, simplified, interpretive sketches of a Middle Jurassic U Bagå Formation Bajocian M the deformation structures were produced. A few of L Fug- lunda the structures were dug out to reveal the plan- Mb Aalenian U surface geometry. L ?? U Toarcian M Ryde- bäck Sorthat Formation Geological setting L Mb U Pliensbachian In the Early Jurassic, Bornholm and Scania in south- L Fm Rya Katslösa Hasle Formation – Mb ern Sweden formed part of the NW SE trending Galge- – Lower U Pankarp Mb Sorgenfrei Tornquist Zone, which separates the Sinemurian løkke Mb L Döshult Danish Basin from the Baltic Shield (Michelsen et al. Mb Sose Bugt Mb Helsingborg 2003). The uppermost Triassic and lowermost Juras- Hettangian ? Mb Munkerup Mb sic in Bornholm and Scania (Fig. 3) include non- Rønne Formation Bjuv Mb marine, coastal and shallow marine deposits referred Rhaetian Höganäs Fm Sst. € € Vallåkra Mb Höör to the Rønne, Hoganas and Rya Formations (Surlyk et al. 1995; Nielsen 2003; Lindstrom€ & Erlstrom€ Upper Triassic Norian Kågeröd Risebæk Mb Fm Fm 2006). On Bornholm, the Lower Jurassic Rønne For- Kågeröd mation comprises lacustrine, floodplain or coastal Marine mudstones and siltstones Unconformity plain, tidal and marine shoreface deposits of Hettan- Shallow marine sandstones and Dinosaur skeleton remains gian to Sinemurian age (Gravesen et al. 1982; Surlyk siltstones Paralic and non-marine sandstones, Dinosaur tracks et al. 1995). These paralic deposits contain organic- siltstones, mudstones and coals rich beds and plant material testifying to a warm Hiatus and humid climate (Petersen et al. 2003). € € Fig. 2. Stratigraphical scheme of Mesozoic units on Bornholm The sediments of the Hoganas Formation are and southern Scania (Skane), with indications of vertebrate ich- interpreted to have been deposited in lagoons, no and body fossils. Stratigraphical scheme modified from swamps, lakes and floodplains. The formation con- Michelsen et al. 2003. tains two extensive coal beds, and numerous hori- 2008; Milan et al. 2006). This is the first record of zons enriched in comminuted plant debris. The dinosaurs from the Lower Jurassic in Denmark. The spore–pollen flora in Scania includes bryophytes and aim of this study is to describe the newly observed Equisetites, which usually thrive under wet and deformation structures from the Lower Jurassic Sose humid conditions, and Taxodiacean, conifer pollen Bugt Member of the Rønne Formation, to discuss the and fern spores are abundant. A majority of the ferns possibility that they are dinosaur tracks and to put grew under moist and preferably rather warm condi- them into context with the other Scandinavian finds tions (Lindstrom€ & Erlstrom€ 2006). of Lower Jurassic dinosaur tracks. We also describe The Lower Jurassic Sose Bugt Member of the related sediments and interpret the depositional envi- Rønne Formation (Gravesen et al.
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