A team of researchers discovered the first known adult Tyrannosaurus rex trackway, uncovering four three-toed footprints spanning roughly 7 meters in the Hell Creek Formation of southwestern North Dakota, according to findings published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The tracks, dating back approximately 66,5 juta tahun, were identified by scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Colorado and Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom.
Discovering the First Adult T. Rex Trackway in North Dakota
Scientists found the 7-meter trail consisting of two left and two right footprints preserved in the Hell Creek Formation, a region renowned for dinosaur fossils, according to reporting by The Guardian. While isolated prints or tracks from juvenile dinosaurs have surfaced previously, this sequence marks the first time researchers have documented a continuous trail left by an adult T. rex. Tyler Lyson, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, noted that bones reveal structural history, but tracks capture specific behavioral moments and allow researchers to follow an animal’s movement across an ancient landscape.
Calculating Walking Speed and Locomotion Metrics
Each footprint measures approximately 0.91 meters in length, with a stride length of about 3.9 meters between steps, as reported by CNN Indonesia. Researchers deployed high-resolution 3D surface scanners to document the site and fabricate physical replicas of the prints. Based on the stride and track dimensions, the team calculated that the dinosaur traveled at speeds between 5.6 and 7.2 kilometers per hour, matching the pace of a briskly walking human. T. rex stood between 3.5 and 4 meters tall and populated North America during the Cretaceous period approximately 66,5 juta tahun yang lalu before disappearing in a mass extinction event.
Did you know? The trackway was discovered entirely by accident when Colorado schoolteacher Kent Hups spotted the prints while exploring the fossil-rich terrain. Hups later participated in drafting the formal research report.
Future Preservation and Museum Transport
Plans are underway to extract three of the four discovered footprints from the North Dakota site and airlift them to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science via helicopter later this year. Museum curators plan to integrate the physical replicas and scanned data into ongoing exhibits and educational outreach programs. Educators involved in the discovery emphasize that careful observation remains central to scientific breakthroughs in paleontology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are the T. rex footprints found in North Dakota?
According to researchers, the newly discovered trackway dates back approximately 66,5 juta tahun to the late Cretaceous period.
How fast could the adult T. rex walk?
Data from the 3D surface scans and stride measurements indicate the dinosaur moved at speeds between 5.6 and 7.2 kilometers per hour.
Where will the footprints be displayed?
Three of the four footprints are scheduled for helicopter transport to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for further study and public exhibition.
Join the Discussion
What do you think these new trackway discoveries reveal about ancient predator behavior? Leave a comment below or share this article to discuss prehistoric research with fellow paleontology enthusiasts.
Related reading