The first record of Lower Cretaceous theropod tracks in Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang, northwestern China

A detailed morphological study has been conducted for the first time on theropod tracks found in the Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Group in the Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang. Based on the small size, the low length/width ratio, and the low anterior triangle length/width ratio, these theropod tracks are classified into cf. Eubrontes. These findings provide direct evidence for the presence of theropod dinosaurs within the Hami pterosaur fauna. Furthermore, by considering the length of the footprints, it is estimated that the trackmakers had a hip height of approximately 65cm and a body length of about 171cm, indicating that these tracks were made by small theropods. Additionally, when taking into account the invertebrate traces, the sedimentary structure, and the lithostratigraphic sequence of the section, these footprints were likely left along the shoreline of a shallow lake.