| Minisauripus Temporal range: Barremian - Cenomanian, 125.45–99.7 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
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Trace fossil classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Ichnogenus: | †Minisauripus Zhen et al., 1995 |
| Type ichnospecies | |
| †Minisauripus chuanzhuensis Zhen et al., 1995 | |
| Other ichnospecies | |
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Minisauripus is an ichnogenus of dinosaur footprint. Minisauripus is regarded as the smallest pre KT-extinction dinosaur ever discovered. It was less than 20 cm (7.8 inches) long. Its footprints are first discovered in the Feitianshan Formation of China, and subsequently reported from the Haman Formation and Jinju Formation of South Korea. Its footprints were found within the vicinity of those of the larger Jialingpus.
Identification
Based on the trackways, Minisauripus was possibly a hatchling theropod. However, ichnopalaeontologists aren't sure if it belonged to an actual juvenile dinosaur. The Minisauripus tracks show three distinct toes, unlike the tracks of similar-sized small dromaeosaurids such as Dromaeosauriformipes, which are didactyl, with the "killer claw" on the inner toe being held off the ground and thus not preserved in the trackway.
See also
References
Glut, Donald F. (2003). "Appendix: Dinosaur Tracks and Eggs". Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia. 3rd Supplement. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 613–652. ISBN 0-7864-1166-X.
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Minisauripus | |
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