HUELLAS DE DINOSAURIOS EN LA FORMACION RIO LIMAY (ALBIANO-CENOMANIANO?), PlCUN LEUFU, PROVINCIA DE NEUQUEN, REPUBLICA ARGENTINA. (ORNITHISCHIA-SAURISCHIA: SAUROPODA-THEROPODA)

Abstract

An assemblage of dinosaur footprints made up of eight new forms is described. They are from the middle section of the Candeleros Member of the Río Limay Formation, Neuquén Group in the Southern border of the Exequiel R. Mexía lake, Neuquén Province. Iguanodontid and Sauropod footprints are recorded for the first time in Argentina. Three ornithopods (one of them an lguanodontid), a huge sauropod and four theropods are represented. An Albian to Cenomanian? age is estimated for the lower section of the Río Limay Formation, based on the comparison of the footprints and reports on the regional geology. This dinosaur assemblage preceded in aproximately 20 million years, the Titanosaur-dominated fauna commonly recorded in the Río Colorado, Allen and equivalent formations of Patagonia. The paleoenvironment that controlled the accumulation of the ichnite bearing beds was possibly an overflooded area close to water bodies.