The weather around the world has been crazy this year, with heatwaves and droughts worldwide as well as flash floods in certain countries. As a result, many discoveries are being made some more gruesome than others. The latest find seems to be a huge footprint in Texas.
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Huge footprints
Newsweek reports that dinosaur footprints have been discovered in Texas. Indeed these footprints were submerged in water until recently. Due to the ongoing drought, theriver where they were submerged has lowered.
The tracks were found along the Paluxy River, which flows through the Dinosaur Valley State Park. These tracks have never been seen before as they were hidden by the river, but due to extreme weather conditions, experts can now analyze the footprints.
Which dinosaur?
Park spokesperson Stephanie Salinas Garcia told CNN in an email:
Most tracks that have recently been uncovered and discovered at different parts of the river in the park belong to Acrocanthosaurus. This was a dinosaur that would stand, as an adult, about 15 feet tall and weight close to seven tons.
With this drought, park Rangers and volunteers have been doing some cleaning at Dinosaur Valley State Park. They've uncovered one of the world's longest set of tracks. Pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/mAFCPmIX7W
— The Other Pat Green. 🇺🇦 (@BrazosPhotog) August 22, 2022
It is also said that some of the tracks were made by Sauroposeidon, which could grow up to 60 feet and weigh around 44 tons, according to Garcia.
Garcia told CNN:
Being able to find these discoveries and experience new dinosaur tracks is always an exciting time at the park.
How old are they?
According to experts, the footprints discovered in Texas are believed to be around 113 million years old. Newsweek reports that the tracks are likely from the mid-Cretaceous era. During this era, what is now known as the Dallas region of Texas, was at the shore of the sea.
The Dinosaur Valley State Park has said that eventually, the newly discovered dinosaur footprints will vanish once again when the area experiences rainfall again, allowing the river’s water levels to rise.
Garcia told CNN:
While these newer dinosaur tracks were visible for a brief amount of time, it brought about the wonder and excitement about finding new dinosaur tracks at the park.
Dinosaur Valley State Park will continue to protect these 113-million year-old tracks not only for present, but future generations.
Read more:
⋙ Never-seen-before skeleton of a giant dinosaur discovered in Argentina
⋙ Europe’s largest dinosaur may have been found in Britain
⋙ Fossils discovered on Scottish Island indicate that this species is older than people think
