EARLY PERMIAN TETRAPOD TRACKS OF THE ABO PASS CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

Although extensively exposed and well studied geologically, realatively little research has been done on the paleontology of the Lower Permian Abo formation of the Abo Pass area, Valencia , Socorro and Torrence counties , New Mexico. The study area covers approximately 100 sq. km. , extending north-south from the Priest Canyon to the Sevilleta WR in the south, and is approximately 10 km east -west. Amphisauropus dominates the track assemblages. Also found is Batrachichnus, Dromopus, "Gilmoreichnus", Varanopus and Ichniotherium. Here we add Dimetropus to this list, with specimens being found in both members. The tracks show a wide range of morphology and preservation. swim traces along with body and tail drags are uncommon but represented in several facies.Several sites yield multiple track planes only a few centimeters thick. Tracks are found as single prints and as trackways several meters long. this has allowed for a wide sample of tracks and substrate variation. the Abo Pass tracks well represent an inland Batrachichnus ichnofacies