Permian Tetrapod Footprints from Tunisia

Tetrapod footprints have long been known from Permian outcrops of the Cheguimi Sandstone in southern Tunisia, but never described in detail. The only recovered specimen preserves vertebrate tracks of two different biospecies. Ichnomorphotype 1 shows affinity with mid-Permian tetrapod tracks from France (Merifontichnus Gand etal., 2000) and South Africa (unnamed tracks); ichnomorphotype 2 is most similar to Middle to Late Permian tracks of France (Planipes Gand etal., 1995) and Italy (Dicynodontipus Ruhle von Lilienstern, 1944), respectively. Both kinds of the Tunisian tetrapod tracks can be referred to non-mammalian therapsid trackmakers. The ichnoassemblage is in agreement with the supposed late Middle to early Late Permian (approximate to Capitanian to Wuchiapingian) age of the Cheguimi Sandstone, although additional finds are necessary to obtain a more precise age control.