Scientists have uncovered a treasure trove of dinosaur footprints, numbering over 16,000, at the Carreras Pampas tracksite in Bolivia's Torotoro National Park. This site, spanning approximately 80,570 square feet, offers a rare glimpse into the ancient world of dinosaurs, particularly theropods, and their movements. The tracks, dating back between 101 million and 66 million years, were left by these three-toed, bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs as they traversed a shoreline that once bustled with life.
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, is the first scientific survey of this footprint-covered area. Researchers identified 16,600 theropod tracks, a record-breaking number for any trackway site. The tracks reveal a variety of behaviors, from leisurely strolling to sprinting through muddy shores, and even swimming in shallow water. Some tracks were isolated, while others formed trackways, providing insights into the dinosaurs' gaits and sizes, ranging from 26 inches to over 49 inches in hip height.
The significance of these findings lies in the preservation of soft tissues and movements, offering a more dynamic understanding of ancient ecosystems compared to fossil skeletons. Paleontologist Sally Hurst highlights the importance of trackways in reconstructing ancient environments and dinosaur behavior. Dr. Peter Falkingham adds that deeper tracks preserve more of the foot's motion, providing valuable insights into dinosaur locomotion.
The Carreras Pampas site raises intriguing questions about the dominance of theropod footprints and the absence of sauropod tracks, which are more common in other sites. This discovery joins a list of notable dinosaur trackway sites in Bolivia, including Cal Orck’o in Sucre, which contains an estimated 14,000 prints dating back about 68 million years. The comparison between these sites is crucial for understanding the larger picture of dinosaur life in South America.
As Mindy Weisberger, a science writer, notes, trackways provide a unique perspective on dinosaur behavior, revealing what they actually did, moment to moment. Dr. Anthony Romilio emphasizes the importance of trackways in understanding dinosaur movement, speed, direction, and group behavior. The Carreras Pampas tracks, in particular, offer a snapshot of a bustling shoreline filled with scampering theropods, allowing visitors to stand where these ancient creatures once walked.
