Barrancapus

† Barrancapus is a Late Triassic ichnospecies from the Chinle Formation of the western United States representing possible sauropodomorph or prosauropod trackways. These large herbivore footprints from the Norian age contribute to the ichnological record of early dinosaur diversity in Laurasia and complement body fossil assemblages from the same formation.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Barrancapus was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Triassic Late Mesozoic Era

Barrancapus lived during the Triassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 237.0 to 201.4 million years ago.

The first true dinosaurs appeared during the late Triassic, including early theropods like Eoraptor and Herrerasaurus. Dinosaurs were still small and not yet dominant. The period ended with the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event.