Eugenio Sanz Pérez

On the validity of Pteraichnus palacieisaenzi, Pascual Arribas and Sanz Pérez 2000: new data from the Huérteles formation

Abstract The original definition of the ichnospecies Pteraichnus palacieisaenzi Pascual Arribas and Sanz Pérez (Estudios Geológicos 56:73–100, 2000) failed to comply with some of the norms proposed in the most recent version of the ICZN (International code of zoological nomenclature, fourth edition 1999) for the definition of new taxa. This was an undesired consequence of the long process of its publication. Furthermore, the progressive growth of lichens in the tracksite made it difficult to see the tracks, as a result of which some authors have called the validity of P. palacieisaenzi into question. After being completely cleaned, the tracks are of a better quality than at the time of their discovery, making it possible to describe the characters of the ichnotaxon in greater detail. Moulds of the type specimens have been prepared with a view to housing them in a public institution (Museo Numantino, Soria). The present paper redescribes the ichnospecies P. palacieisaenzi and compares this ichnotaxon with other tracks from a variety of pterosaur ichnospecies. Finally, a hypothesis is proposed on the trackmaker of the ichnospecies.KurzfassungDie ursprüngliche Definition der Ichnospezies Pteraichnus palacieisaenzi Pascual Arribas & Sanz Pérez 2000 verletzte einige Regeln für die Definition neuer Taxa, die in der aktuellen Ausgabe des Internationalen Codes für Zoologische Nomenklatur (ICZN 1999) dargelegt wurden. Dabei handelte es sich um eine unerwünschte Folge des langen Veröffentlichungsvorgangs. Ferner war es infolge des fortschreitenden Flechtenwachstums in den Spurenfossilien an der Stätte schwierig, die Spuren selbst auszumachen, was dazu geführt hat, dass einige Autoren die Gültigkeit der Ichnospezies P. palacieisaenzi in Frage gestellt haben. Nach einer vollständigen Reinigung sind die Ichnofossilien von besserer Qualität als zu dem Zeitpunkt ihrer Entdeckung, was es uns ermöglicht hat, die Charaktere des Ichnotaxons ausführlicher zu beschreiben. Es sind Abgüsse der Typ-Exemplare erstellt worden, um sie in einer öffentlichen Einrichtung (Museo Numantino, Soria) zu deponieren. In dieser Arbeit wird die Ichnospezies Pteraichnus palacieisaenzi neu beschrieben und mit verschiedenen anderen Flugsaurier-Ichnospezies verglichen. Zum Schluss wird eine Hypothese über den Autor dieser Ichnospezies dargelegt.

Historical earthquake parameters by geological and seismic site analysis: the 1908 Cerbón earthquake (Spain)

AbstractSeismic catalogues summarize information mainly on recent earthquakes and seismic events, recorded by means of relatively new instruments. Hence, this information, although being of high quality and quantitative value, sometimes is rather incomplete, since historical earthquakes are neglected in many cases. An example is the 1908 Cerbón earthquake (in Spain). This shake caused a good number of effects in the epicentre and surrounding area, triggering a huge landslide among some other effects. A complete geological and seismic site analysis, accompanied by a historical review of testimonies and journals of the time describing this particular earthquake, has been carried out, along with a deep field investigation to identify the mechanism of this landslide and the characteristics of the involved materials. A retrospective pseudo-static numerical simulation has been carried out to calculate the most probable range of peak horizontal accelerations during the earthquake. The results demonstrate the moderate relevance of this shake, also allowing us to quantify its objective importance. The presented methodology can be easily extended to some other similar cases, if seismic catalogues are to be completed for future designs accounting for seismic considerations.