Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Characichnos tridactylus

Osteichthyes

Taxonomy
Characichnos tridactylus was named by Whyte and Romano (2001). It is considered to be a form taxon. Its type specimen is USEGS F00803, a footprint, and it is a trace fossil. Its type locality is Rail Hole Bight tracksite, which is in an Aalenian fluvial-deltaic sandstone/siltstone in the Saltwick Formation of the United Kingdom. It is the type species of Characichnos.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2001Characichnos tridactylus Whyte and Romano
2003Characichnos tridactylus Romano and Whyte p. 202
2007Characichnos tridactylus Wings et al. p. 125
2016Characichnos tridactylus Milner and Lockley p. 156
2020Characichnos tridactylus Castanera et al. p. 282
2021Characichnos tridactylus Klein and Lucas p. 58
2025Characichnos tridactylus Foster et al. pp. 304-305

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
RankNameAuthor
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
genusCharacichnosWhyte and Romano 2001
speciestridactylusWhyte and Romano 2001

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Characichnos tridactylus Whyte and Romano 2001
show all | hide all
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
H. Klein and S. G. Lucas 2021Two to four elongate, parallel hypichnial ridges (or epichnial grooves) that may be straight, gently curved or slightly sinuous. The termination of the ridges (or grooves) may be straight or slightly flexed.
J. R. Foster et al. 2025Elongate tracks consisting of two to four parallel hypichnial ridges or epichnial grooves that may be straight, gently curved, or slightly sinuous. Terminations of the ridges or grooves may be straight or sharply reflexed. Trackways consist of two rows of tracks (indicating a bipedal track maker) in which the long axes of the tracks are parallel to each other in straight trackways, and either parallel or oblique to the midline of the trackway.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: brackish, freshwater, terrestrialuc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Created: 2017-04-17 15:15:19
Modified: 2017-04-17 15:15:19
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade
References: Kiessling 2004, Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range: Aalenian or 174.70000 to 170.90000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Aalenian174.7 - 170.9United Kingdom (England) Characichnos tridactylus (type locality: 61677)