355
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 55, 5, BRATISLAVA, OCTOBER 2004
355370
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS ON THE ISLAND
OF VELI BRIJUN (ISTRIA, CROATIA)
ALEKSANDAR MEZGA and ZLATAN BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zvonimirova 8, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
amezga@geol.pmf.hr; zbajrak@geol.pmf.hr
(Manuscript received February 26, 2003; accepted in revised form December 16, 2003)
Abstract: The dinosaur footprints have been discovered on the island of Veli Brijun, Croatia at one Late Barremian site
(Pogledalo) and three Late Albian sites (Ploèe, Kamik/Pljeivac, Trstike/Debela Glava). The Late Barremian ichnocoenosis
contains tracks of large theropods in intertidal sediment. The footprints assigned to the large carnosaur-type theropods
predominate over a rare gracile form. Footprints of small to medium sized theropods, medium sized ornithopods and
small ornithopods are present in Late Albian ichnocoenosis as well as possible chelonian footprints. They were formed
in a lagoonal environment that was occasionally subaerially exposed. The parallel trackways could indicate gregarious
behaviour among the small ornithopods. Footprints of an iguanodontid ornithopod represent the only such findings in the
Istria. The speeds of individuals at all four localities indicate normal walk. A total of 145 dinosaur footprints and 75
possible chelonian prints have been mapped; 111 prints are arranged in 14 trackways.
Key words: Croatia, Late Barremian, Late Albian, ichnology, dinosaurs, turtles, theropods, ornithopods.
Introduction
Dinosaur footprints in Istria occur in well-bedded limestones
of the Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate platform. Until recently the
age of these footprints was regarded as BarremianAlbian but
new findings and micropaleontological analyses have wid-
ened that range from Early Hauterivian (Dalla Vecchia et al.
2000) to Late Cenomanian (Mezga & Bajraktareviæ 1999;
Dalla Vecchia et al. 2001). Research on the dinosaur foot-
prints of the Brijuni Archipelago (Fig. 1) began in 1925 with
the work of the Austrian industrialist Bachofen-Echt who has
described two different types of footprints. He assigned small
to large tridactyl tracks to the genus Iguanodon and circular
footprints with visible traces of claws to turtles (Bachofen-
Echt 1925a). The locality at which Bachofen-Echt discovered
the footprints is described in his work as cape Rocca, but
such name does not exist on the maps of the Veli Brijun Island
and the exact location of this outcrop cannot be precisely de-
termined. Today it is presumed that the site on the Ploèe prom-
ontory could be the site described by Bachofen-Echt (Dalla
Vecchia et al. 1993, 2002). Footprints on the Pljeivac prom-
ontory (Polak 1965; distinguish two types of footprints) and
Pogledalo (Veliæ & Tiljar 1987) were discovered during later
investigations and described recently (Dalla Vecchia et al.
2002). Tridactyl footprints previously assigned to the genus
Iguanodon (e.g. Polak 1965; Veliæ & Tiljar 1987) have re-
cently been identified as theropod footprints (Dalla Vecchia et
al. 1993, 2002).
Geological setting
The Upper Barremian to Upper Albian carbonates lie flat on
the Veli Brijun Island. The southern and northern parts of the
island are composed of well-bedded limestones of Late Albian
age, while the central and north-western parts are composed of
Upper Barremian carbonate deposits (Veliæ & Tiljar 1987).
These sediments were deposited in shallow marine carbonate
platform environments, which changed from shallow subtidal
to intertidal zones and experienced frequent emersions. Car-
bonate sediment layers with the dinosaur footprints on the
Pogledalo locality (Fig. 2A) are of Late Barremian age. The
age has been proved by the findings of the algae Salpin-
goporella melitae Radoièiæ, S. genevensis (Conrad) and S.
urlanadasi Conrad et al. (Veliæ & Tiljar 1987). Dinosaur
footprints occur on the upper bedding plane of a layer com-
posed of fenestral micrite. The layer is sub-horizontal, with an
exposed area of 43 × 5.5 m, and thickness of 130 mm. A thin-
bedded, stromatolitic-pelletal limestone with a thickness of
100200 mm is found above the track-bearing layer. Ripple
marks indicate shallow water to intertidal environment. Thick-
bedded, peritidal limestone breccias are found below the
track-bearing layer. The footprints also occur in the Upper
Albian carbonate layers at three different sites. At the Trstike/
Debela Glava site (Fig. 2B) the layers are made up of white
pelletal-peloidal wackestonepackstone, partly recrystallized.
The microfossil assemblage includes numerous Thauma-
toporella sp. algae, foraminifers like Glomospira cf.
urgoniana Arnaud-Vanneau, Istriloculina cf. granumtrici
Neagu, Earlandia? sp. and ostracods. Footprints occur on the
upper bedding plane of a horizontal layer with exposed area of
41.5 × 31.5 m and bed thickness of 120 mm. The overlying
limestone bed is about 300 mm thick, and the underlying
limestone bed is about 150 mm thick. At the Kamik/Pljeivac
(Fig. 2C) and Ploèe (Fig. 2D) locality limestone layers show
somewhat different characteristics. The sediment is miliolid-
peloid wackestone with the transition to miliolid packstone.
On the Ploèe locality there are numerous geopetal infillings
356
MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
Fig. 1. Locality map with footprint localities indicated.
Fig. 2. The four track-bearing outcrops on the Veli Brijun Island. A Pogledalo promontory; B Trstike/Debela Glava promontory;
C Kamik/Pljeivac promontory; D Ploèe promontory.
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CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
Fig. 3. Map of the Pogledalo locality.
(not mentioned in Dalla Vecchia et al. 2002) inside the
miliolid wackestone which are clear indicators of subaerial ex-
posure. There are also numerous coated grains inside miliolid
packstone indicating a more agitated environment. The micro-
fossil assemblage found in the thin sections is typical for the
Late Albian environment of the Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate
platform. Among the foraminifers the miliolids prevail, there
are numerous Scandonea aff. phoenissa Saint-Marc, Pseudo-
nummoloculina heimi (Bonet), Istriloculina cf. granumtrici
Neagu, Rumanoloculina cf. minima (Tappan) and Sigmoilina?
sp. Nezzazata isabellae Arnaud-Vanneau et Sliter and
Novalesia cf. angulosa (Magniez) are also present as well as
the algae Salpingoporella? sp. This microfossil assemblage is
more detailed than the assemblage mentioned in Dalla
Vecchia et al. (2002) and more clearly proves the Late Albian
age of the sediment. At the Kamik/Pljeivac locality, the struc-
tures and textural characteristics of the sediment do not indi-
cate subaerial exposure, and it was probably formed in a shal-
low subtidal environment. The footprints occur on the upper
bedding planes of the two concordant sub-horizontal layers.
The lower bed has an exposed area of 14 × 9 m and thickness
of 0.52 m with the preserved ripple-marks on the top of it. The
upper bed covers a larger area of 29 × 10 m and is about
200 mm thick. Both layers are in direct contact with the sea
and during high tides the footprints are partially submerged.
At the Ploèe locality footprints occur on the upper bedding
planes of the two concordant layers; the lower (stratigra-
phically older) layer has a thickness of 40 mm, and the upper
layer has a thickness of 450 mm. The underlying and overly-
ing beds are 100 mm thick. The area of the outcrop on which
the footprints occur is horizontal and 14.5 × 12.7 m in extent.
All four footprint localities are now situated on the shoreline
and are in permanent contact with the sea with corresponding
adverse effects on footprint preservation.
Systematic description
Upper Barremian footprints (Pogledalo locality)
Sixty-one dinosaur footprints were discovered on the track-
bearing surface and 16 of them form four trackways (IIV)
(Fig. 3). In the trackway III an irregularity of the footprints
can be observed; some footprints are missing from the track-
way. The other footprints are not arranged in trackways, but
occur individually.
Our map of this locality as well as the maps of the other lo-
calities on the Brijuni Island differs somewhat from Dalla
Vecchia et al. (2002). This is mainly due to the different inter-
pretations of some prints and trackways. The different angle of
the sunlight during the day could also be the limitating factor
in the footprint recognition, especially because of the poor
preservation of the most of the footprints.
Although the sediment consistency was the prevailing fac-
tor in the preservation of the footprints, in contrast to Dalla
Vecchia et al. (2002) we distinguish two morphotypes of the
358
MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
tridactyl footprints. The first type is a robust, stout, tridactyl
form, arranged in four trackways (I, II, III and IV in Fig. 3)
and 35 isolated footprints. The second type is a gracile, slen-
der, tridactyl form (A, B in Fig. 3). Footprints marked with
letters ah represent dinosaur footprints, which are not dis-
tinct enough to be classified as either of the two types. Due to
their specific morphology, the footprints marked with the let-
ter A and IV3 (representing two different morphotypes) are
described separately.
The footprint, marked with a letter A (Fig. 9B in Dalla Vec-
chia et al. 2002), representing the gracile type, is tridactyl,
mesaxonic, with long and slender digits (Figs. 4A, 5). There
is no hallux trace. This print is placed over another tridactyl
print with different morphology; the individual that left the
print passed over the track of the dinosaur, which crossed the
same area earlier (see Fig. 4A; the V-shaped dent situated at
the left side from the proximal part of the left digit is actually
the distal part of digit III of the underlying track). It is charac-
teristic of this footprint morphology that only digit prints are
preserved while metapodium and heel impressions are ab-
sent. This could indicate that the dinosaur, which left this
track, walked with an elevated digitigrade posture, but it may
be a preservational factor. The three digit imprints are not
connected at the rear of the print. Digit axes are straight, but
the outer edges of each of the three digits are curved or wind-
Fig. 4. Theropod footprints from the Pogledalo promontory. A gracile type marked as A; B gracile type marked as B; C third
footprint in trackway III, robust type; D third footprint in trackway IV, robust type. Scale bar = 22 cm.
ing. This is a product of the conspicuous digital pads on the
phalanges of each of the three digits. The middle digit is the
longest, while the outer left digit is longer than the right outer
digit. The axis of the right digit describes with the axis of the
middle digit a somewhat larger angle than the axis of the mid-
dle and left digit; 22.5° : 20° (interdigital angles were mea-
sured between digital axes representing lines of best fit;
Fig. 4.5a in Thulborn 1990). On the basis of the interdigital
angle measurement and the fact that the print of the left digit
is shorter than the right one, it is concluded that this is a foot-
print of the left foot, with the right digit being digit II, middle
digit III and left digit IV. Claw marks are well preserved on
digits III and IV; the trace of the claw is sharp, V-shaped, and
straight being coaxial with the digit. On digit II the claw im-
pression is not clearly differentiated. Only a widened area,
shallower than the rest of the digit, is present; it does not show
the characteristic narrowing, but follows the line of the outer
edge of digit II. Digit III is the widest, while the width of the
outer digits is almost equal (generally speaking, all three dig-
its are narrow in comparison to their length). The proximal
ends of all three digits are in different planes. Impressions of
two pads are noticeable on digit II. On digit IV there are three
of them. The edges of digit III curve more than the edges of
digits II and IV, but the impressions of at least three pads are
visible (footprint dimensions are given in Table 1).
359
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
The footprint marked with IV3, representing the robust type,
is the third in the row in the trackway IV (Figs. 4D, 5). The
footprint is tridactyl, mesaxonic, with long and wide digits,
460 mm long and 320 mm wide. The middle digit is the largest
(150 mm long and 70 mm wide) while the outer digits are of
approximately the same size and are smaller than the middle
digit (110 mm long and 5080 mm wide). The middle digit is
straight with parallel edges. It is widest at its proximal end
(70 mm) and becomes gradually narrower toward its distal tip
producing a V-like shape. The digit terminates with a V-shaped
claw impression, which curves to the right side, in contrast to
the digit itself. The right digit is curved to the right, but the cur-
vature increases distally. The digit has a V-like shape and is
widest in its proximal part. While the proximal part (2/3 of the
digit length) is oriented in a straight line, the distal part (1/3 of
the length) is sharply deflected to the right. A V-shaped claw
impression is visible at the digit apex. The left digit is, in con-
trast to the other two, U-shaped, but also oriented in a straight
line, and widest in the proximal part. The claw impression is
not as conspicuous as on the other two digits. With respect to
the middle digit, the axis of the left digit is oriented to the left.
A hallux impression is not visible. The angle between the axes
of the two outer digits is 30°, while their divergence with re-
spect to the middle digit is about the same (1516°). A charac-
teristic of the footprint is the lack of well-defined creases sepa-
rating the digital pad impressions. The impression of the distal
part of the heel is visible. The heel impression is convex and
has a gentle V-shape. The left margin of the heel impression is
not connected in a straight line to the left outer edge of the left
digit, but the characteristic indentation behind the left digit can
be clearly seen. The right edge of the heel impression is contin-
uously connected to the outer edge of the right digit, though the
right digit appears separated from the footprint, because of a
small indentation which can be noted at their junction. On the
basis of the measured parameters, morphology and the position
in the trackway, it was concluded that this is a footprint of the
left foot, the right digit being digit II, the middle digit being dig-
it III, and the left digit is digit IV.
TN/FM
FL
FW
FW/FL
SI
DL II
DL III
DL IV
DW II
DW III DW IV
TD
Pogledalo
I
273
220
0.75
25.3
100
130
80
-
20
-
38°
II
345
280
0.81
31.1
120
170
115
60
70
70
44°
III
388
278
0.71
33.0
130
175
130
70
65
65
32°
IV
392
306
0.79
34.6
140
185
130
50
75
65
36°
A
330
325
0.98
32.7
200
280
230
25
35
25
42.5°
B
280
240
0.85
25.9
100
155
110
25
40
30
44°
135
324
265
0.80
29.2
128
179
133
52
60
54
43°
ah
360
274
0.82
31.1
Trstike/Debela Glava
I
153
140
0.93
13.7
132
141
141
1.03
14.0
A
265
170
0.64
21.2
130
60
Kamik/Pljeivac I
I
290
282
0.97
28.6
50
107
63
65
80
75
67.3°
Kamik/Pljeivac II
II
184
130
0.70
15.5
72
100
57
20
27
12
74°
III
185
145
0.78
16.4
105
70
45
35
IV
189
135
0.71
15.9
143
34
Ploèe
I
196
127
0.65
15.8
65
105
65
35
37
325
40°
II
198
140
0.71
16.6
57
110
30
27
40
20
III
228
141
0.62
17.9
100
IV
162
116
0.73
13.8
80
35
V
214
151
0.70
18.0
90
146
95
35
40
37
35°
A
180
120
0.67
14.7
80
115
80
30
35
30
40°
B
235
180
0.76
20.6
55
95
45
40
45
40
41.5°
C
200
135
0.67
16.4
80
110
50
30
40
30
47.5°
D
190
130
0.66
15.9
80
120
70
35
40
30
45.5°
E
210
150
0.71
17.7
85
133
87
111
1.28
9.83
PloèeÈamèarnica
+
320
250
0.78
28.3
100
160
180
65
45
50
+
250
175
0.70
20.9
60
120
9
35
50
45
40°
+!
410
260
0.63
32.6
140
65
+"
430
250
0.58
32.8
90
160
65
55
60
60
44°
Table 1: Measurements of the footprints. All measurements in mm. Bold numbers are averages. Key to abbreviations: TN trackway num-
ber (I, II, ...); FM footprint mark (1, 2, ...; A, B, ...; a, b,...); FL footprint length; FW footprint width; SI footprint size index;
FO footprint orientations; DL II, DL III, DL IV length of digits II, III and IV; DW II, DW III, DW IV width of digit II, III and IV;
TD total divarication.
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MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
Fig. 5. Drawings of some footprints from the four localities on the Veli Brijun Island. Scale bar = 15 cm. The mark II indicates the posi-
tion of digit II.
Upper Albian footprints (Kamik/Pljeivac, Trstike/Debela
Glava and Ploèe localities)
Twenty consecutive dinosaur prints, discovered on the Ka-
mik/Pljeivac I layer surface, comprise trackway I
(Figs. 6, 7A). The prints are tridactyl, very shallow, poorly
preserved, and appear to have been produced by a bipedal di-
nosaur. The expulsion rims are visible. The pes morphology
could still be recognized on two separate prints. The first is
twelfth in a row in the trackway (Fig. 7B). It is tridactyl and
mesaxonic with short blunt digits, 280 mm long and 300 mm
wide. It is difficult to decide on the basis of the print itself
whether it represents a left or a right foot. On the basis of its
position in the trackway (it is on the right side of the trackway
I central axis) we conclude that it is a print of the right pes.
The left digit is consequently digit II, the middle digit is digit
III, and the right digit IV. The left digit is not as well pre-
served as the other two. The outer digits have similar dimen-
sions (4045 mm long and 8090 mm wide), are U-shaped
and lack claw impressions. The middle digit is larger than the
outer digits (105 mm long and 100 mm wide). The axes of all
three digits are straight and the axes of the outer digits diverge
substantially from the axis of the middle digit (37°). The total
divergence is 73°. A heel impression is present, and is round-
361
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
Fig. 6. Map of the Kamik/Pljeivac I locality.
Table 2: Measurements of trackways. All measurements in m. Key to abbreviations: TN trackway number (I, II, ...); TL trackway
length; TW trackway width; TO trackway orientations (degrees); PL pace length; SL stride length; SL/h relative stride
length; PA pace angulation (degrees); h estimated hip height; v1 speed in m/s; v2 speed in km/h.
TN
TL
TW
TO
PL
SL
SL/h
PA
h
v1
v2
Pogledalo
I
2.12
0.28
256
0.841.03
1.84
1.4
176.9
1.34
1.53
5.50
II
2.34
0.42
151
1.041.06
2.06
1.2
160.7
1.69
1.44
5.18
III
3.11
0.36
340
1.101.46
2.18
1.1
88.1
1.90
1.34
4.82
IV
4.30
0.51
261
1.141.25
2.262.40
1.21.3
136.9154.1
1.92
1.451.61
5.225.80
Trstike/Debela Glava
?I
1.30
0.99
229
0.50
?0.61
Kamik/Pljeivac I
I
13.55
0.500.80
247
0.610.91
1.151.56
0.60.8
105.2173.0
1.71
0.491.03
1.763.71
Kamik/Pljeivac II
II
16.90
0.39
323
0.580.69
1.181.30
1.41.6
150.5155.6
0.86
1.261.49
4.545.36
IV 13.80
0.37
339
0.650.68
1.31
1.5
160.1
0.85
1.48
5.33
Ploèe
I
3.06
0.34
48
0.850.98
1.58
156.6
0.88
1.99
7.16
II
2.97
0.16
103
0.920.94
1.841.87
2.1
163.0168.2
0.89
2.492.56
8.969.22
III
3.65
0.17
378
0.891.12
1.851.99
1.92.0
163.7
1.03
2.342.54
8.429.14
IV
2.06
0.18
91
0.620.76
1.281.51
1.62.2
135.9166.8
0.73
1.512.42
5.448.71
V
2.93
0.30
36
0.690.73
1.341.38
1.41.5
137.0160.6
0.95
1.341.43
4.825.14
VI
1.46
0.51
226
0.42
0.85
2.7
?0.32
2.35
8.46
VII
1.25
0.40
172
0.310.44
0.700.80
2.12.3
?0.34
1.671.77
6.016.37
ed and convex, with a lunate shape. In fact, the whole foot-
print creates the impression of a semicircle with a single pro-
tuberance representing the print of the middle digit. The other
print in the whole trackway in which the pes morphology can
still be recognized is print I4 (Fig. 5). Its morphology corre-
sponds to the description of the print I12, except that the mid-
dle digit has characteristically expanded tip (spade-shaped).
The footprint has a length of 270 mm and width of 260 mm.
The total divergence is 62°. Both footprints show a general
morphology similar to the trefoil, which is a characteristic of
the prints attributed to the pes of ornithopods (compare to
Fig. 6.33 in Thulborn 1990; see also Dalla Vecchia et al. 2002).
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MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
On the track-bearing layer Kamik/Pljeivac II that overlies
the above described bed (Kamik/Pljeivac I outcrop), 36 dino-
saur footprints have been found. These are arranged in three
approximately parallel and closely spaced trackways. They
are referred to here as trackways IIIV (Fig. 8). Due to the in-
tensive karstification, erosion by the sea and atmospheric con-
ditions, the footprints are hard to recognize; they can be clear-
ly seen only when the sun is low on the horizon. All three
trackways have the same orientation (S-N); the westernmost
trackway is several meters from the other two trackways (di-
mensions are given in the Table 2). The footprints in the
trackways are not in a continuous succession, and interrup-
tions occur in several places as some footprints are missing.
The reason for that could be the non-preservation of the foot-
prints due to the nature of the substrate itself (too soft), or the
later destruction of the tracks due to erosion. The continuity
(sequence) of the footprints is best seen in the first ten prints
of trackway II. These are also the most conspicuous prints
(Figs. 5, 7C,D). The prints are tridactyl, mesaxonic and with
long, rounded digital prints. In the majority of the prints only
two digits can be clearly discerned and, as a rule, these are the
middle and the inner digits. The prints of the outer digits are
visible, but are not well defined. This is probably the result of
the fact that the animal, while walking, leaned more on the in-
ner side of the foot and the foot on that side was consequently
pressed more into the substrate. The digits are widest mid-way
along their length and are narrower at the apex and at the base
of the digit. The digit axes are straight. The total divergence is
high and ranges from 61°79°. Claw traces cannot be dis-
cerned, but this is probably a consequence of the poor preser-
vation. The distal parts of the prints corresponding to the heel
impressions are wide and rounded and often with a semicircu-
lar shape (dimensions of the prints are given in the Table 1).
The undefined prints found on the Trstike/Debela Glava
locality in our opinion do not belong to dinosaurs but possible
to chelonian reptiles. On the surface of the layer 42 undefined
prints were found (identical to the prints discovered on the
Ploèe locality). The orientation of the ten prints in a line sug-
gests the existence of a trackway (?I), while the remaining 32
prints occur individually (Fig. 9). The best preserved print has
approximately a quadrangular shape and is wider than it is
long (155 : 145 mm), tetradactyl and mesaxonic (Figs. 5, 10A).
It seems to have a bilateral symmetry. Digit prints are of medi-
um length when compared to print length (3055 mm) and
they are narrow (width is 510 mm). The digits are straight
with their axes in a straight line. The digit furthest to the right
has the greatest length and width. The length and the width of
the digits decrease proportionally sinistrally. The digit further
to the left is the smallest. All digits have a V-shape and be-
come narrower distally. Claw impressions are most pro-
nounced on the two middle digits. These impressions are also
Fig. 7. Footprints from the Kamik/Pljeivac promontory. A ornithopod trackway I from the track-bearing underlayer; B twelfth footprint
in ornithopod trackway I; C tridactyl trackway II from the track-bearing overlayer; D second footprint in trackway II. Scale bar = 22 cm.
Fig. 7D. Second footprint in trackway II. Scale bar = 22 cm.
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CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
Fig. 8. Map of the Kamik/Pljeivac II locality.
Fig. 9. Map of the Trstike/Debela Glava locality.
364
MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
sharply V-shaped, and are oriented in the same direction as
the digit itself. The digits on the left side of the middle axis of
the print diverge to the left, while those on the right side di-
verge to the right. The total divarication is 44.4°. The length
of the digits is somewhat less than half of the print. The prob-
able heel impression covers the remaining length of the print
and is quadrate with well defined edges. Its proximal edge
shows characteristic indentations (it describes a zigzag line).
The left edge of the heel continuously passes in to the outer
edge of the leftmost digit. A bulge can be seen along the right
edge of the heel impression separating the pass (transition)
into the outer edge of the rightmost digit, as seen on the left
heels edge. Most parts of the print are almost equally indent-
ed, though the digit prints are somewhat shallower. On the ba-
sis of the print position in respect to the prints I2 and I4, and
in accordance with the morphology, it is concluded that this is
a possible right pes print. The first left digit would be digit I,
and the digit furthest to the right would be digit IV. An isolat-
ed tridactyl footprint was also discovered at the outcrop
(Fig. 9A). Some morphological features, such as clearly sepa-
rated digits with the middle digit longer than the outer digits,
indicate a dinosaur origin of this track although it is poorly
preserved.
Sixty footprints were recognized on the Ploèe outcrop.
Twenty-two tridactyl footprints are arranged in a sequence
Fig. 10. Various footprints from the Trstike/Debela Glava and Ploèe promontories. A undetermined print from Trstike promontory; B
a pair of undetermined prints from Ploèe promontory; C second footprint in theropod trackway I at the Ploèe promontory; D theropod
footprint marked with a letter D at the Ploèe promontory. Scale bar = 22 cm.
and they comprise five trackways (IV), five tridactyl foot-
prints are preserved individually (AE), and 37 non-tridactyl
prints occur individually (Fig. 11). Two types of footprints
can be distinguished. The first type represents medium-sized,
bipedal, tridactyl dinosaur pes prints, while the second type is
non-tridactyl possibly chelonian prints, identical to the prints
discovered at Trstike/Debela Glava. The typical example of
tridactyl footprint is the second in the row in a couple of foot-
prints C and D (Figs. 5, 10D). It is a tridactyl, mesaxonic
print, 230 mm long and 123 mm wide. The print is shallow,
with clearly separated, long and wide digits. The middle digit
is the longest (164 mm) and the widest whereas the outer dig-
its are of almost equal dimensions (100 × 30 mm). The axis of
the middle digit is straight with parallel outer edges. The
greatest width is in its middle part (41 mm) and it becomes
narrower proximodistally. A clear rounded claw impression is
present on the digit apex. The digit has three clearly pro-
nounced digital pads. The right outer digit has a straight axis
and a proximodistal narrowing; the outer margin is curved. A
V-shaped trace of the claw is clearly visible. The left outer
digit also has a straight axis, with two clearly pronounced im-
pressions of flesh pads. The V-shaped claw mark is clearly
visible on the digit apex. The angle that the axis of this digit
closes with the axis of the middle digit (21°) is greater than
the one between the axis of the middle and the right digit
365
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
(10°). The left digit has a noticeably greater depth than the
right and the middle digits. It is possible that this is the result
of the animal leaning more on the left side of the foot. The to-
tal divergence is 31°. The heel impression is slightly visible
and has a sharp V-shape. The hallux print is not visible. The
axis of the left digit is at a greater distance from the axis of the
middle digit than the axis of the right digit. On the basis of the
general morphology, as well as the footprint position in the
trackway (the footprint is positioned to the right from the mid-
dle axis of the trackway), it is concluded that this is a print of
the right pes. The left digit is the digit II, the middle digit is
the digit III, and the right digit is the digit IV. The typical ex-
ample of the non-tridactyl print on the outcrop is tetradactyl,
of approximately square size, with greater width than length
(Fig. 10B). The print is bilaterally symmetrical. The digit
prints are elongate and very narrow. The impressions of the
two outer and two inner digits can clearly be discerned and
the outer digits are positioned on the very edges of the print,
while the inner ones are positioned directly along the left and
right side of the middle axis of the print. All the digits are
straight, oriented in a straight line and the angle of the axis of
each digit with the middle axis of the print increases to the left
and right of the middle axis. The angle of divergence between
the middle axis of the print and the digits is small. All digits
have a sharp V-shape, proximodistal narrowing, and leave the
impression of the continuous transition into the claw prints.
The claw prints are not visibly differentiated from the rest of
the digit, but it seems, that each digit ends with a claw. The
Fig. 11. Map of the Ploèe locality.
two outer digits are somewhat broader than the inner ones, but
the inner digits are longer. The length of the digits itself com-
prises approximately 1/3 of the length of the entire print, the
remaining length of the print comprising traces of the heel.
The heel impression has a square shape with relatively sharp
edges. The outer edges of the heel continuously pass into the
prints of the outer digits. It is noticeable that the right part of
the heel impression is somewhat shallower than the left part,
especially along the right proximal edge. The proximal part of
the print gives the impression of indentation (zigzag line). In
the print region between the outer and the inner digits, two
symmetrical V-shaped forms are visible, whose tips end in a
line with the half of the inner digit length. It is possible that
these are traces of the flesh pads. Due to the symmetry of the
print, it is difficult to say to which foot it belongs, but since
the print is positioned in a defined formation with two other
prints to the right and in front of it, it can be concluded that
this is a print of the left foot. From left to right, these would be
the digits IIV.
Discussion
Upper Barremian trackmakers
On the basis of the footprint morphology, their dimensions
as well as trackway morphologies, we have decided to assign
the robust tridactyl footprints from the Pogledalo promontory
366
MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
to a heavy, robust form of theropod dinosaur (sensu Thulborn
1990). This conclusion agrees with the statements made by
Dalla Vecchia et al. (2002). Regarding their taxonomic deter-
mination, the following has been established: the non-exist-
ence of a hallux impression, the smaller length of the foot-
print, and the difference in the total divergence distinguishes
them from large theropod footprints assigned to the ichnoge-
nus Bueckeburgichnus maximus from the Lower Cretaceous
basins of Germany (Kuhn 1958) and Spain (Moratalla 1993).
The footprints from Pogledalo differ from the Therangospo-
dus (Lockley et al. 1998b) by their larger size, more elongate
prints, better defined digits and trackway parameters (foot-
print irregularities). The Megalosauripus (Lockley et al.
1998b) type are similar to the Pogledalo prints in having simi-
lar dimensions (see Table 1), footprint morphology (sensu
Lockley et al. 1998a), and irregularity of the footprints in the
trackways (although this could be a feature caused by the sub-
strate conditions). One of the characteristics of Megalosauri-
pus trackways is the great variability in the step length (Lock-
ley & Meyer 1999). This characteristic can be noted in the
majority of the trackways on the Pogledalo promontory (e.g.
stride length of 114 to 126 m in trackway IV, or 110 to 156 in
trackway III, Table 2). Although the Megalosauripus
Therangospodus assemblage was defined as being almost ex-
clusively Upper Jurassic (Lockley et al. 1998b), it is possible
that in Istria, due to its geographical isolation (e.g. Dercourt et
al. 1993; Zappatera 1990), the dinosaurs which produced such
tracks (similar to Megalosauripus) existed somewhat longer
(at least to the end of Barremian). The difference between
Megalosauripus and the footprints from Pogledalo is in the
non-existence of the clearly visible digital pad impressions
(though this is not the case with all Megalosauripus ichnospe-
cies, e.g. M. teutonicus; Lockley et al. 1998a). The footprints
from the Pogledalo promontory are most similar to the un-
named Lower Cretaceous footprints from the Koum Basin in
Cameroon, Africa (Jacobs et al. 1989). The similarity is espe-
cially pronounced by comparing prints IV3 from Pogledalo and
No. 3 from the KB3 locality, Cameroon (Fig. 38.2 in Jacobs et
al. 1989). The footprints are of a similar size, have a very simi-
lar morphology (internal digit of each print is recurved), and
similar trackway parameters. The single important difference is
that the tracks from Cameroon were preserved in a predomi-
nantly fluviatile sedimentary environment (Jacobs et al. 1989,
p. 350) and those on the Pogledalo promontory on a tidal flat.
On the basis of the morphology and size dimension (sensu
Thulborn 1990), the gracile tridactyl footprints from Pogleda-
lo locality are assigned to a gracile form of the large theropod
dinosaur. Such a conclusion is in disagreement with Dalla
Vecchia et al. (2002) who identified only one type of thero-
pod footprint on this site. There are four ichnogenera with
similar morphology and dimensions to the footprints de-
scribed here. Kayentapus hopii (Welles 1971) from Lower Ju-
rassic deposits of Arizona differs from the described form not
only by the large time difference, but also by its wider angles
of digit divarication (total divarication is 53°), broader digits
and presence of a heel impression. Schizograllator xiaobaensis
from the Lower Jurassic strata of China is similar to Kayen-
tapus (after Zhen et al. 1989), and differs from Pogledalo foot-
print on the basis of the same characters mentioned above. The
holotype of Schizograllator is even wider than long. The grac-
ile footprints from the Pogledalo locality show most similarity
and are closest in age to the footprints described as Megalo-
sauropus broomensis from Lower Cretaceous complexes of
Western Australia (Colbert & Merrilees 1967; illustration by
Merrilees in Haubold 1971). Both footprints are of approxi-
mately identical length and width and have three slender dig-
its with well pronounced digital pads. The reason for our pro-
posal that the footprints from Pogledalo are a different
ichnogenus is their smaller angle of total divergence (42.5°
versus 59°) and the lack of a heel impression. Although a high
density of the footprints has been established on the Pogledalo
promontory, there are no preferred movement directions
(Fig. 3); on the contrary, tracks go in almost every direction
(except to the northeast, which could indicate the direction of
the former shoreline). Footprints of several individuals are
present at the locality, some of which overlap, which testifies
that dinosaurs passed through that area repeatedly. Different
levels of footprint preservation are also characteristic, being
the result of differences in substrate consistency, which is es-
pecially evident on the last two footprints in trackway IV. The
only skeletal remains of large theropods (more than 5 m long)
in Lower Cretaceous deposits of Europe have been discovered
in the Valanginian-Aptian strata of England: Baryonyx walk-
eri, Valdoraptor oweni, Becklespinax altispinax, Neovenator
salerii and Eotyrannus lengi (Weishampel 1990; Hutt et al.
1996, 2001). Although Thulborn (1990, p. 147), states that
gracile forms of large theropod footprints probably belong to
dinosaurs such as Megalosaurus and Colbert & Merrilees
(1967) assign footprints of M. broomensis to a megalosaurid
dinosaur, we would not assign the gracile theropod footprints
from the Pogledalo site to the megalosaurids. Not that we do
not agree with their opinion, but we think that the presence of
megalosaurids in the Cretaceous, based on their skeletal re-
mains, is doubtful or at least unproven. The origin of the dino-
saurs from the Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate platform is still not
fully understood, and if we keep in mind paleogeographical
reconstructions and interpretations of these areas during the
Mesozoic (Channel et al. 1979; Zappaterra 1990; Dercourt et
al. 1993), it seems very likely that Istrian populations originat-
ed on the African continent (see also Dalla Vecchia 1998).
This opens a real possibility for identification of the track-
maker on the basis of skeletal remains from Africa. Gracile
forms like Afrovenator abakensis (Hauterivian-Barremian
basal tetanuran; Sereno et al. 1994) could be possible track-
makers for the gracile type of prints at Pogledalo.
Upper Albian trackmakers
In respect to their dimensions, morphology, SL/FL (5/1) ra-
tio, and trackway parameters (see Tables 1, 2), the prints from
Kamik/Pljeivac I have been assigned to iguanodontid orni-
thopods (sensu Thulborn 1990). This statement is agreeable to
conclusion made by Dalla Vecchia et al. (2002) earlier. The
shallowness of the preservation, in respect to the footprint di-
mensions, and a diffuse outline are characteristic for this
trackway. The footprints are very poorly preserved, which is
probably the consequence of the firm consistency of the sub-
strate in which the footprints were made. Therefore the possi-
367
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
bility for the comparison with the other tracks of this type is
limited. According to Lockley & Meyer (1999, p. 196) in the
lower Cretaceous of England and Europe, there are no large
Iguanodon-sized ornithopods that were as abundant or as
widespread as Iguanodon, so there is a high possibility that
most tracks (regarding large ornithopods, authors remark) re-
ally were made by representatives of the genus Iguanodon.
In the light of these statements, the footprints from Kamik/
Pljeivac I could be ascribed to Iguanodon. On the Adriatic-
Dinaric carbonate platform no skeletal remains of iguanodon-
tid dinosaurs have been found and as we mentioned earlier the
connection of the platform with the African continent seems
more plausible. The African iguanodontid genus Ouranosau-
rus could also be the possible trackmaker. Considering the
problem of quadrupedalism vs. bipedalism in the ornithopods,
we can only state that at the locality Kamik/Pljeivac I prints
corresponding to the manus were not observed, and therefore
we conclude that iguanodontid on this site walked bipedally
or overprinting its front footprints. However, it is also possi-
ble that manus prints were not preserved (even the pes prints
are faintly recognizable or very shallow). These footprints
represent the only find of the iguanodontid tracks on the Istri-
an Peninsula, although the prints from Ploèe locality were
identified as Iguanodon footprints by Bachofen-Echt
(1925a,b).
In respect to the poor preservation of the footprints at the
Kamik/Pljeivac II locality, some doubts about the identifica-
tion of the trackmaker exist. The general morphology and the
dimensions of the footprints indicate that a medium-sized bi-
pedal dinosaur made the prints, but there is a doubt whether it
was a small theropod or a small ornithopod. Guided by the
principles of Thulborn (1990), we can say that the ratio be-
tween the stride and footprint length (7/1), the ratio between
footprint width and footprint length (0.73), and the ratio be-
tween width and length of the digit III (0.31) suggest a medi-
um-sized theropod origin. Support for a small ornithopod ori-
gin is found in the values of the pace angulation (150°155°),
total divarication (62°79°), digit shapes, and rear margin of
the footprints, which are rounded (U-shaped). When we com-
pare pes skeleton in both, small theropods and small ornitho-
pods (see Thulborn 1990) we could notice that the digit III is
more projecting forward in the pes of theropods than ornitho-
pods. If we keep that in mind we could say that the tracks on
the Kamik/Pljeivac II are more similar to ornithopod tracks
than to theropods (compare the values in the Table 1 and
Figs. 7D and 10D). Observing the width of the trackways at
this locality, it is concluded that the footprints are far distant
from each other in respect to their dimensions (wide-gauge
trackway), which could indicate that the footprints were made
by a dinosaur of a heavier, more robust form than the gracile
theropods. Since the skeletal remains of mid-Cretaceous (Ap-
tianCenomanian) small sized coelurosaurs from Europe or
Africa are represented only by a rare forms like Elaphrosau-
rus and Scipionyx (Weishampel 1990; Dal Sasso & Signore
1998), while small ornithopod families like Hypsilophodon-
tidae or Dryosauridae are relatively common in the mid-Creta-
ceous strata of both continents (Weishampel 1990), we are in-
clined to assign the footprints to small ornithopods similar to
Dryosaurus. Such a conclusion differs from that made by Dal-
la Vecchia et al. (2002) where a theropod origin was stated. It
should be noted that some tridactyl footprints of uncertain tax-
onomic position were also discovered in Upper Albian strata
near the mouth of the Mirna River (NW Istria) (Dalla Vecchia
et al. 1993). These are also poorly preserved but with similar
morphology and dimensions as the Ploèe prints and were as-
signed to theropods (Figs. 4B, 5, 6 in Dalla Vecchia et al.
1993). However, the high angle of divergence and the width
of the outer digits, might suggest that these footprints could
belong to a small bipedal ornithischian. On the basis of the al-
most identical trackway orientations (NNW), speeds (about
5 km/h), and gaits (SL/h = 1.5), it could be possible to con-
clude that three small bipedal dinosaurs moved together in a
pack. These characteristics could indicate their gregarious
behaviour, but they cannot prove it. Dalla Vecchia et al.
(2002) already mentioned such a possibility although they
also found no proof to confirm it.
On the basis of their morphology, dimensions, and track-
way parameters (see Tables 1, 2), the tridactyl footprints from
Ploèe are assigned to a medium-sized theropod dinosaur (after
Thulborn 1990). This is in accordance with the earlier state-
ments that these are theropod prints (Haubold 1971; Dalla
Vecchia et al. 2002) and not the prints of Iguanodon, as has
been stated in the literature ever since the Bachofen-Echt
(1925a,b), and for the number of years after (Polak 1965;
Veliæ & Tiljar 1987, also in all popular literature), but with-
out supporting evidence. Dalla Vecchia et al. (2002) also stat-
ed that the Ploèe tridactyl footprints show a feature of the or-
nithomimid foot. Theropod footprints of Albian age were also
found in Istria at the Èervar and Puntiela sites (Dalla Vecchia
& Tarlao 2000). The tridactyl prints from these sites were as-
signed to medium-sized theropods and are similar to the tri-
dactyl prints from Ploèe (see Figs. 7, 8 in Dalla Vecchia &
Tarlao 2000) although the sedimentological features are dif-
ferent. They have similar dimension and morphology; foot-
print lengths, angles of total divergence and the digit dimen-
sions are within the same range of values, straight and slender
digits, low divarication angles, sometimes visible pad impres-
sions, digit III being the longest one. The trackway parameters
correspond with similar pace length, stride length, and calcu-
lated speeds. On the basis of similar footprint dimensions,
their morphology, parameters of the trackways as well as the
similar age of the sediment in which they were found, it is
concluded that the tridactyl footprints from Ploèe correspond
to those from Èervar. Regarding the taxonomic classification
of the tridactyl footprints from Ploèe promontory, we support
Haubolds (1971) conclusion regarding a theropod origin for
these trackways, but not the establishment of the ichnospecies
Megalosauropus brionensis, which he erected on the basis of
Bachofen-Echts (1925a,b) research. In this sense we agree
with the statement of Lockley et al. (1998a) about the lack of
demonstrated morphological match between the Ploèe tracks
and the Megalosauropus type material. In our opinion, there
are no similarities between them, either in age or in morpholo-
gy. Skeletal remains of middle Cretaceous small to medium
sized theropods from the Adriatic-Dinaric platform and neigh-
bouring areas (see Dercourt et al. 1993) are rare and fragmen-
tary. Only the ceratosaur Genusaurus sisterornis (Accarie et
al. 1995) discovered in the Lower Albian of southern France,
368
MEZGA and BAJRAKTAREVIÆ
and Scipionyx samniticus (Dal Sasso & Signore 1998) from
the Lower Albian of southern Italy, are worth mentioning. For
this reason it is difficult to assign the footprints from Ploèe to
a particular genus of mid-Cretaceous and medium-sized thero-
pods. These footprints in fact represent the only proof of
theropod presence on the platform during the mid-Cretaceous.
Besides the footprints found in situ on the Ploèe promontory,
seven blocks with footprints were removed in the 1970s from
the track-bearing level II. Five footprints were deposited in
the so-called Èamèarnica, a house on the southern side of
the Veli Brijun main harbour, which was once a museum and
is now deserted. All five prints are now in a very bad state,
since the blocks with the footprints were broken during the
extraction and transport and were later repaired with plaster.
These are tridactyl footprints of theropod morphology (elon-
gated prints, slender digits, low divarication angles), between
250 and 430 mm long (see Table 1 for dimensions). It is inter-
esting that the extracted footprints have larger dimensions
than those preserved in situ (see Table 1), which would sug-
gest that some of them (e.g. C4, C5, see Table 1) belonged to
another or larger type of the theropod dinosaur, as indicated
by their morphology and dimensions (see also Dalla Vecchia
et al. 2002). The possibility that the dimensions of the foot-
prints were enlarged due to the influence of the seawater and
atmospheric conditions on the sediment, should not be ex-
cluded either.
The majority of tracks found on the Veli Brijun Island locali-
ties are tridactyl footprints assigned to dinosaurs (Fig. 5). How-
ever, there are some prints at Trstike/Debela Glava and Ploèe
with a non-tridactyl morphology and an undetermined origin. If
they are ichnofossils, then the problem of their identification
arises. So far no dinosaur prints morphologically similar to
these tracks have been found. Also, there is no dinosaur with a
foot anatomy (skeletal construction) that corresponds to the
prints from Trstike and Ploèe. If we assume that this is not a
new dinosaur species, possible alternative trackmakers could be
turtles. Bachofen-Echt (1925b) also considered these prints to
be turtle tracks. A successive series of footprints was found no-
where on the outcrops, which would indicate without doubt that
they were made by a quadrupedal animal, although there are
segments which could support such conclusions (e.g. trackway
?I on the Trstike locality). Conversely, it cannot be stated with
confidence that the prints were made by a bipedal animal, since
no well-preserved trackway can confirm this. Some specimens
from these tracks are morphologically similar (tetradactyl,
square-shaped, greater width than length) to forms like the Per-
mian ichnogenus Chelichnus (McKeever & Haubold 1996) or
the Upper Jurassic turtle ichnogenus Chelonichnium (Bernier et
al. 1982). The irregular placement of the footprints might indi-
cate swimming as well, but this option seems unlikely because,
as Dalla Vecchia et al. (2002) already mentioned, they are deep
impressed (deeper than the tridactyl prints). It is possible that
these tracks were formed by human activities, like stone exca-
vation (Dalla Vecchia 1997; Dalla Vecchia et al. 2002), since
some quarries existed in the past in these areas. We agree with
Dalla Vecchia et al. (2002) that some of the prints show forms
that are similar to the marks made by tools, but it is possible
that they are the results of the erosive process, caused by the sea
and the atmospheric exposure.
Dimensions, speeds and ichnocoenoses
Considering the facts about the possible trackmakers, we
can make some conclusions about the dimensions of the dino-
saurs from the Veli Brijun Island. To obtain the lengths of the
theropods from the Veli Brijun promontories, hip height cal-
culations (Thulborn 1990; see Table 2) were used, and com-
puted values were applied on the reconstructions of the men-
tioned dinosaurs. Large theropods from Pogledalo were
7.58 m long, small coelurosaur theropods from Ploèe were
34 m long, medium-sized iguanodontid ornithopods from
Kamik/Pljeivac were between 66.5 m long and dryosaurid-
like ornithopods or medium-sized theropods from Kamik/Plje-
ivac promontory were around 3.5 m long. The speed at
which the dinosaurs were travelling was estimated on the ba-
sis of equation v = 0.25g
0.5
SL
1.67
h
1.17
where v = velocity,
SL = stride length, h = hip height (Alexander 1976). Average
velocities (see Table 2) are in general agreement with Dalla
Vecchia et al. (2002) and for the large theropods from the Po-
gledalo locality were around 5 km/h (a little bit slower than
calculated by Dalla Vecchia et al. 2002), for small theropods
from Ploèe around 7 km/h, while the average speed of move-
ment for the ornithopods from Kamik/Pljeivac was around
3 km/h for large and 5 km/h for small individuals. Such veloc-
ities indicate normal or fast walk of the individuals near the
former seashore.
On Veli Brijun Island two distinct ichnocoenoses can be
discerned: a Late Barremian one consisting of large thero-
pods, and a Late Albian one of small theropod, medium and
small sized ornithopod footprints. Both ichnocoenoses are re-
lated to the carbonate platform intertidal environment. Ac-
cording to Lockley et al. (1994) the Brontopodus ichnofacies
is characteristic of carbonate platform environments dominat-
ed by sauropod footprints. Although there is an absence of
sauropod footprints on the Veli Brijun localities, the Late Al-
bian ichnocoenoses on the Veli Brijun Island could belong to
a Brontopodus ichnofacies. They are associated with the same
depositional environment and even the Brontopodus ichnofa-
cies does not include all the footprint types (i.e. sauropods and
theropods). The presence of the large theropods and the envi-
ronment in which their tracks were formed, associates the
Late Barremian ichnocoenosis with the Brontopodus ichnofa-
cies. However, the absence of sauropod footprints and differ-
ent age does not permit us to regard these two ichnofacies as
the same.
Conclusions
Two distinct ichnocoenoses in the sediments on the Veli
Brijun Island have been recognized. The Late Barremian ich-
nocoenosis found on the Pogledalo promontory is composed
of footprints of large theropods among which large robust
forms and gracile slender forms can be discerned. The Late
Albian ichnocoenosis found on the Ploèe, Trstike/Debela Gla-
va and Kamik/Pljeivac promontories is composed of the
footprints of small theropods, small ornithopods, large orni-
thopods and of prints possible chelonian. A total of 220 foot-
prints were discovered. 145 of them are of dinosaur origin
369
CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR AND TURTLE TRACKS (CROATIA)
while 75 are of possible chelonian origin. Some footprints
suggest fragmentary trackways, while most occur separately.
The velocities (59 km/h) and directions of movement, mea-
sured from trackways at all the four localities, indicate normal
walking. The footprints were preserved in the limestones de-
posited in the intertidal to tidal flat zone. The ornithopod foot-
prints represent the only such findings in the Upper Albian
strata of Istria and the earliest record of the ornithopods on the
Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate platform. Together with theropod
and sauropod footprints, they increase our knowledge regard-
ing the diversity of the dinosaur species that lived in this re-
gion during mid-Cretaceous times.
Acknowledgments: Our sincere thanks go to Miss M. Pav-
letiæ for her enthusiastic and extremely valuable help during
the researches on the Veli Brijun Island. We also thank Mr. A.
Vitasoviæ for his help during the fieldwork, and the staff of
the National Park Brijuni for their hospitality cooperation. We
thank Dr. Blanka Cvetko Teoviæ for the analysis of the thin
sections and Prof. I. Guiæ for his reading of the manuscript.
Our thanks also go to our colleague S. Majer for his help dur-
ing fieldwork. Part of the fieldwork was realized through the
Geological heritage protection Project of the Croatian Geo-
logical Society. The research was partly made in the frame of
SCOPES 20012003, Joint Research Project sponsored by
SNSF.
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