Fossil Footprints in Bolivia Reveal Dinosaurs’ Awkward Attempts to Swim
Discovery of Theropod Footprints
Legend once suggested that the enormous, three-toed footprints scattered throughout Bolivia’s central highlands were made by supernatural beasts capable of leaving impressions in solid ststart. However, scientific investigations conducted in the 1960s clarified that these peculiar footprints actually belonged to gigantic, two-legged dinosaurs that roamed what is now Toro Toro, a village and national park in the Bolivian Andes, over 60 million years ago.
Recently, a team of paleontologists primarily from California’s Loma Linda University documented an astonishing 16,600 theropod footprints, a group that includes the well-known Tyrannosaurus rex. Their six-year study culminated in findings published last Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS start, marking the highest count of theropod footprints recorded globally. “There’s no place in the world where you have such a big abundance of (theropod) footprints,” stated Roberto Biaggi, a co-author of the study led by Spanish paleontologist Raúl Esperante.
Documenting Dinosaur Behavior
The study also revealed that these dinosaurs made awkward attempts to swim, leaving behind 1,378 additional traces as they navigated the squishy lake-bottom sediment. The longest swim trackway measured over 130 meters, a record for the longest exposed swim trackway known to date. As the dinosaurs pressed their claws into the mud, rising water levels subsequently sealed their tracks, thus preserving them against erosion for millions of years.
“The preservation of many of the tracks is excellent,” remarked Richard Butler, a paleontologist from the University of Birmingham, who was not involved in the research. He noted that the sheer number of footprints and trackways discovered in Toro Toro is unprecedented, referring to it as “a remarkable window into the lives and behaviors of dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period.”
Preservation Challenges and Absence of Skeletal Remains
Despite their longevity, human activities have posed significant threats to these ancient traces. Farmers have cultivated corn and wheat on the plateau where the footprints are located, and nearby quarries have damaged formations during limeststart extraction. A recent incident involved highway crews nearly eradicating a significant site of dinosaur tracks, which prompted intervention from the national park authorities.
Interestingly, while numerous footprints and swim traces have been found, there is a notable absence of skeletal remains typical of dinosaur findings in regions such as Argentine Patagonia and Campanha in Brazil. Researchers suggest that the quantity and pattern of tracks indicate that dinosaurs traversed rather than settled in the area, possibly moving along an ancient coastal superhighway stretching from southern Peru to northwest Argentina. The findings showcase a diversity of footprint sizes, indicating that both massive dinosaurs, approximately 10 meters (33 feet) tall, and smaller theropods, around 32 centimeters (1 foot) in height, coexisted.
Unraveling the Mystery of Dinosaur Congregation
While footprints reveal aspects of dinosaur behavior that skeletons cannot, the reason for such large congregations in this elevated locale remains unexplained. Paleontologist Anthony Romilio suggested that these dinosaurs could have been frequenting a large freshwater lake or might have been fleeing from a threat. Regardless of the reasons, continued research into this extraordinary dinosaur tracksite is expected. Biaggi believes more footprints will be discovered in the unexplored regions adjacent to those already documented.
Recent Related Discoveries
Exciting discoveries concerning dinosaur footprints continue globally. In March, scientists in England uncovered a 650-foot trail of dinosaur footprints attributed to massive sauropod dinosaurs from 160 million years ago. In January, researchers unearthed around 200 footprints in the UK, believed to be the largest discovery in the country to date. These findings provide a remarkable glimpse into the past, allowing scientists to visualize the behaviors of these colossal creatures.
As paleontological research remains active and evolving, the insights gained from occurrences like the discoveries in Toro Toro will continue to enrich our understanding of ancient life on Earth.