A new sauropodomorph ichnogenus from the Lower Jurassic of Sichuan, China fills a gap in the track record.

A dinosaur tracksite in the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation of Sichuan Province, China consists of a spectacular sub-vertical exposure, with multiple track-bearing levels and trackways showing parallel and bimodal orientations. Based on well-preserved material, the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies,Liujianpus shunanichnogen. nov. ichnosp. nov. is erected to accommodate distinctive sauropodomorph trackways occurring in this assemblage.Liujianpushas a unique combination of features, some relating to the early Jurassic basal sauropodomorph (prosauropod in traditional usage) ichnogenusOtozoum, others to the sauropod ichnogenusBrontopodus. Despite such a mix of basal sauropodomorph- and sauropod-like features, the trackmaker ofLiujianpusis likely a basal sauropodomorph. This identification is consistent with the occurrence of basal sauropodomorph skeletons from geographically and chronologically close localities. The other distinct morphotype from the tracksite is linked to a sauropod trackmaker. As such, the ichnofauna consisting of two distinct foot morphotypes reflects the diversity of sauropodomorph dinosaurs in the Early Jurassic of Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]