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Scientists discover first-known adult T rex trackway in North Dakota Badlands
Fox News • • general
Key Points:
- Scientists in North Dakota discovered the first known trackway left by an adult T. rex, preserving its footsteps from 66.5 million years ago near Marmarth in the Hell Creek Formation.
- The trackway consists of at least four massive three-toed footprints, each about 3 feet long, spaced approximately 13 feet apart, indicating the dinosaur walked at 3.5 to 4.5 miles per hour.
- Researchers used high-resolution 3D scanning to document the prints, and a fifth track was found during further excavation; three tracks are planned for recovery and detailed study.
- The discovery is significant as no adult T. rex trackway had been described before, and scientists hope the footprints may reveal preserved skin impressions to better understand the dinosaur's foot anatomy.
- This finding adds to recent global dinosaur discoveries, including a 150-million-year-old sauropod trackway found in Colorado last year.
