From Fox News · Andrea Margolis · · 2m
First T. rex trackway discovered in North Dakota
Scientists uncover the first-ever sequence of footprints left by an adult T. rex, preserved for 66.5 million years.
In brief
Scientists uncover the first-ever sequence of footprints left by an adult T. rex, preserved for 66.5 million years. A volunteer teacher's discovery of T. rex footprints in North Dakota marks the first documented trackway from an adult T. rex, with more prints likely waiting to be found. Originally reported by Fox News.
First adult T. rex trackway found
Scientists in North Dakota discovered what they believe is the first known sequence of footprints left by an adult T. rex, preserved 66.5 million years after the dinosaur walked the Earth.
“This is the first time scientists have described a sequence of tracks, or trackway, likely left by this most famous of dinosaurs.”
Volunteer teacher made the discovery
High school teacher Kent Hups spotted the first print near Marmarth in the Hell Creek Formation. Curator Tyler Lyson was initially skeptical until the team found a third print within 30 minutes of digging.
“I thought, well, if there's three, that's a pattern.”
Footprints stretch over 23 feet
The trackway consists of at least four three-toed prints, each more than 3 feet long, spaced about 13 feet apart. The prints weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds each.
T. rex was walking slowly
Researchers estimated the dinosaur was moving between 3.5 and 4.5 miles per hour when it left the tracks, similar to human walking speed.
Size confirms adult T. rex
The footprints' exceptional size and narrow toe shape, combined with abundant T. rex fossils in the surrounding area, led researchers to identify them as belonging to an adult T. rex.
More tracks likely buried nearby
A fifth footprint was discovered this summer while excavating farther into the hill. Curator Lyson believes many more prints remain hidden in the Badlands.
“I have no doubt that if we were to continue to dig further into a hill that we would find more.”
Tracks will be airlifted out
Three of the footprints will be recovered in October using a helicopter net and airlifted from the rugged Badlands to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Skin impressions may be preserved
Researchers used high-resolution 3D scanning to document the trackway. When cleaned at the museum, the tracks might reveal preserved skin impressions that show what a T. rex foot actually looked like.
“By cleaning these tracks, we might be able to have a better idea of what the actual foot of a T. rex looked like.”
The takeaway
A volunteer teacher's discovery of T. rex footprints in North Dakota marks the first documented trackway from an adult T. rex, with more prints likely waiting to be found.
