A groundbreaking discovery was made at an English limestone quarry, where a worker stumbled upon a vast collection of 200 dinosaur tracks dating back 166 million years. The Oxfordshire footprints, which include those of herbivores and carnivores, have shed new light on the lives of these prehistoric creatures.
According to paleontologist Richard J. Butler, the majority of the tracks appear to be heading in a northerly direction, likely following the coastline. It is believed that the herbivores were searching for food sources, as there was no vegetation on the mudflats where the tracks were found.
One possible explanation for the carnivore’s presence among the herbivores is that it may have been tracking or shadowing herds of herbivores. The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of sauropod behavior and their migration patterns.
The location of the quarry appears to have been a crucial habitat for sauropods, with previous discoveries in the area dating back to 1824 and 1997. The new findings have been extensively documented, with over 20,000 digital images taken and drones used to create 3D models of the prints.
These detailed tracks will allow scientists to reconstruct the size, stride, and speed of individual dinosaurs, providing a unique window into their world. Paleontologists are excited about the prospect of studying these fossils in greater detail, as they offer unparalleled insights into prehistoric environments.
Source: https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/dinosaur-highway-of-sauropod-footprints-provides-snapshot-of-middle-jurassic