Avipes

Avipes is a genus of small, theropod dinosaur footprints discovered in the Late Triassic period rocks of North America. The ichnogenus is based solely on fossil footprints, meaning no skeletal remains have been directly associated with the tracks.

Avipes footprints are typically small, three-toed (tridactyl) tracks, exhibiting features consistent with those of theropod dinosaurs. The toes are generally slender and pointed, and the footprints lack any impression of a heel. Trackways attributed to Avipes suggest that the animals that made them were bipedal and relatively agile.

The significance of Avipes lies in its contribution to understanding the diversity of early theropod dinosaurs. While skeletal remains from this period are relatively rare, fossil footprints like those of Avipes provide valuable insight into the presence and distribution of theropod-like animals during the Late Triassic. Because only footprints are known, it is difficult to determine the precise species that created them.

The name Avipes is derived from the Latin words "avis" (bird) and "pes" (foot), reflecting the initial interpretation of these tracks as being made by early birds. However, the consensus among paleontologists now leans towards a non-avian theropod origin.