What does this research mean for the field?

Large trace fossils from the Early Triassic Nanlinghu Formation were produced by giant horseshoe crabs exceeding 70 cm in length, demonstrating marine arthropod gigantism and challenging the common attribution of such large traces to vertebrates. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Identify the tracemaker and reconstruct the locomotion behavior behind unusually large trace fossils discovered in the Early Triassic Nanlinghu Formation.

September 15, 2026Journal of Paleontology

Large horseshoe crab traces from the Early Triassic Nanlinghu Formation, China

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Authors

FWFuhuan WangTongji University LXLida XingChina University of Geosciences QDQinghua DaiChaohu University

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Implication

Ichnological analysis reveals giant horseshoe crab trackways in Early Triassic strata, indicating marine arthropod gigantism and complex benthic behaviors.

Key Points

Identify the tracemaker and reconstruct the locomotion behavior behind unusually large trace fossils discovered in the Early Triassic Nanlinghu Formation.
Examined curved-to-straight trails and trackways preserved on two marlstone bedding planes.
Performed morphometric measurements of trace dimensions, recording trail widths from 3.10 to 29.78 cm and lengths from 50 cm to 5.2 m.
Conducted comparative ichnological evaluations against established vertebrate and invertebrate ichnotaxa, including Kouphichnium variabilis and Monomorphichnus biserialis.
Morphological attributes such as parallel scratch marks and granular sediment deposits identified the tracemaker as an aquatic limulid arthropod rather than a vertebrate.
Trackway dimensions yielded estimated body lengths exceeding 70 cm, ranking the tracemaker among the largest known Triassic horseshoe crabs.
Trace patterns indicated near-bottom, subaqueous locomotion or swimming in a marine depositional environment.

Cite This Study

Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa913d99013453be30a208b https://doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2026.10284

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Implication

Ichnological analysis reveals giant horseshoe crab trackways in Early Triassic strata, indicating marine arthropod gigantism and complex benthic behaviors.

Large horseshoe crab traces from the Early Triassic Nanlinghu Formation, China

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Large horseshoe crab traces from the Early Triassic Nanlinghu Formation, China

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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