Scientists Discover First Adult T. Rex Trackway in North Dakota
Researchers have unearthed the first known trackway of an adult Tyrannosaurus rex in North Dakota. This discovery, detailed in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, consists of a 7-meter (23-foot) long path preserving four footprints, each approximately 1 meter (3.2 feet) long and up to 0.80 meters (2.6 feet) wide. The trackway dates back 66.5 million years ago, just before the asteroid impact that led to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. While T. rex skeletal remains are relatively common, trackways are exceptionally rare, with only a couple of isolated footprints previously found in New Mexico and Montana. This new finding provides a unique glimpse into the behavior and movement of an adult T. rex, offering insights that skeletal remains cannot. The track separation suggests an average stride length of about 4 meters (13.1 feet), indicating an estimated walking speed of 1.5 to 2 meters per second (3.3 to 4.5 miles per hour). Three of the footprints are slated to be airlifted to the Denver Museum o...
