Paleocene Tracks of the Mammal Pantodont Genus Titanoides in Coal-Bearing Strata, Svalbard, Arctic Norway

• Published in: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
• Main Authors: Charlotta J. Lüthje, Jesper Milàn, Jørn H. Hurum
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 2010
• Subjects: Arctic; Svalbard; Norway
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/02724631003617449

We discuss large tracks recently discovered in Paleocene coal deposits from Svalbard. The age, large size, and excellent preservation of the tracks allows them to be identified to the pantodont Titanoides. This is the earliest evidence of a large mammal on the Arctic islands and the northernmost record from the Paleocene. The traces are described in detail and named Thulitheripus svalbardii, gen. et sp. nov. Large Paleocene pantodonts are previously only known from North America. The presence of pantodonts in the Paleocene strata of Svalbard confirms the postulated DeGeer route for migration of mammals in the Paleocene/Eocene.