Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Palaeoichnology and Palaeontology of Dinosaurs in North of Kerman, South East Central Iran

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
Majid Mirzaie Ataabadi 1, 2
Alexander W. A. Kellner 3
Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia 4
Helder Paula Silva 3
1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Esfahan, Esfahan , Iran
2 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Finland
3 Museu Nacional/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4 Museo Paleontologico Cittadino, Monfalcone, Italy
Abstract
Besides some limited information available in the literature, the record of Mesozoic vertebrates, specially dinosaur faunas,  in the Middle East are scarce.Among the countries of this region, Iran has the greatest potential for new findings, since extensive areas with Mesozoic continental  deposits, particularly around Kerman  and east of Central Iran are reported. An Iranian-Brazilian expedition, with the support of the Geological Survey of Iran, was scheduled in September 2002 in northern parts of Kerman area in order to investigate the potential for finding Mesozoic terrestrial fossils. In this survey the lower Jurassic dinosaur footprints of the Neyzar Valley was restudied. Reinterpretation of these footprints which are found in two different horizons indicates that they were made rather by theropod than ornithopod dinosaurs .Prospecting in the Late Jurassic / Early Cretaceous red beds of the Ab Bid syncline, western flank of Kuh – e – Takhtgah, north of Kerman, yielded the first dinosaur skeletal remains, including a complete theropod dinosaur tooth crown and some bone fragments.
Keywords
Palaeoichnology
Vertebrate Palaeontology
Dinosaurs
Kerman
Iran

Subjects

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Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences
Volume 14, Issue 54
Winter 2005, Vol. 14, No.54
Winter 2005
Pages 36-47