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First T-Rex Trackway Found: A Dinosaur's Walk
11 Sep
Summary
- Scientists discovered the first known T-Rex trackway in North Dakota.
- The 23ft-long trackway dates back 66.5 million years.
- The T-Rex walked at an estimated 3.5-4.5 mph pace.
In a remarkable paleontological find, scientists have unearthed the first known trackway of an adult Tyrannosaurus rex in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation. This significant discovery consists of a 23ft-long sequence of four three-toed footprints, two left and two right, dating back approximately 66.5 million years.
This trackway provides an unprecedented glimpse into the behavior of the iconic dinosaur, offering insights into its movement. Researchers utilized high-resolution 3D scanning to analyze the prints, estimating the T-Rex was walking at a speed of 3.5-4.5 mph, comparable to a brisk human walk. The stride length between the prints measured about 13ft.
These findings are particularly thrilling as they represent a rare instance of identifying not just isolated prints, but a complete trackway left by a wandering T-Rex. While individual footprints and those of juveniles have been found previously, this series offers unique behavioral data. Three of the discovered footprints are slated for recovery and transport to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science later this year.
