Near the end of the dinosaurs’ era, about 18,000 footprints were stamped into wet mud along Bolivia’s shoreline, creating a “dinosaur superhighway.” This remarkable site is located in Torotoro National Park.
Raúl Esperante, a paleontologist from the Geoscience Research Institute in California, leads the research. He studies ancient coastal areas and what dinosaur footprints reveal about their behavior.
Carreras Pampa, where the footprints were found, lies in a valley where erosion has exposed a large flat rock. This surface, about two acres, is made of limestone that once rested on a coastal plain.
The researchers identified nine areas on this rock where footprints gather in different clusters. They counted 1,321 trackways and 289 single prints, which tell the story of various dinosaurs moving across the surface. Most footprints were left by three-toed theropods, the carnivorous dinosaurs that walked on two legs.
Each line of prints, or trackway, shows how one animal moved through the mud. Paleontologists analyze the spacing and shapes of the prints to estimate the dinosaur’s speed, size, and balance. Interestingly, many tracks indicate that the dinosaurs moved at a steady running pace, unlike other sites where dinosaurs are often seen strolling.
Some parts of the surface have deep pits, showing where the ground was soft and waterlogged. Nearby claw scratches and grooves indicate that some dinosaurs swam in shallow water. Similar findings in the area suggest a mix of walking and swimming behaviors among these prehistoric creatures.
Esperante’s group found Carreras Pampa to have the highest density of dinosaur footprints ever recorded in one location. Unlike many famous dinosaur sites, where only a few tracks are preserved, this Bolivian site is packed with footprints, transforming it into a natural classroom for studying prehistoric movement.
At Carreras Pampa, most tracks head northwest to southeast, following the direction of ancient ripple patterns in the rock that indicate a former shoreline. Some trackways run side by side, suggesting that small groups of dinosaurs used the same route at different times.
Certain patterns in the tracks show dinosaurs making sharp turns, revealing behavior that is rare in the fossil record. In other parts of the world, like Canada, footprints have depicted dinosaurs hunting and socializing. In contrast, Carreras Pampa showcases small to medium theropods living near the water.
This research sheds light on social behaviors and hunting strategies of dinosaurs. Published in the journal PLOS One, the study highlights the unique insights provided by footprints, contributing to our understanding of ancient ecosystems.
For more detailed findings and insights into dinosaur behavior and habitats, check the research published in PLOS One.
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