The problem of small footprints in paleoichnology: remarks on the Early Permian ichnotaxon Erpetopus cassinisi, a local species from Southern Alps (Northern Italy)

Based on well-preserved specimens, and strictly considering the influence of extramorphological (substrated –related) factors, the use of modern techniques (computer drawing, 3D acquisitions) permette a reliable study on footprints smaller than 20 mm. Our case of study focuses on the Erpetopus-Camunipes dualism. Ichnologists disagree on the value of a separations of these ichnogenera , and their discussion appears rather “philosophical” than being condicted by an accurate analysis and objective data. We restudied the holotype of Camunipes cassinisi (sp. MBS 319), together with a new specimen from Southen Alps (sp. MBG 12465) that shows five well-preserved long trackways, and compared them to selected material including the Erpetopus willistoni holotype (sp. UGKU C-8). Results suggests a synonymy of Camunipes with Erpetopus. This has interesting paleobiogeographical consequences: E. cassinisi was probably a local ichnospecies of Erpetopus in the Southern Alps.