Limping Sauropod Trackway Unearthed in Colorado

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A remarkable discovery in Colorado has revealed 150-million-year-old sauropod footprints that suggest the dinosaur may have been limping. This rare trackway offers new insights into the behavior and movement of giant long-necked dinosaurs.

Limping Sauropod Trackway Unearthed in Colorado

Paleontologists have analyzed an exceptionally long trackway at the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracksite in Colorado, USA, dating back to the Late Jurassic period. The trackway, stretching 95.5 meters and containing more than 130 footprints, was created by a massive sauropod — a group of long-necked dinosaurs that included species such as Diplodocus and Camarasaurus.

What makes this trackway extraordinary is that it forms a complete loop, allowing scientists to study how a giant sauropod maneuvered through a tight turn before resuming its original path. According to Dr. Anthony Romilio of the University of Queensland, this rare preservation provides a unique opportunity to examine dinosaur locomotion in detail.

Drone Technology and 3D Modeling

Documenting such a large trackway posed challenges. Researchers from the San Diego Natural History Museum used drones to capture high-resolution aerial images of the site. These images were then transformed into a 3D digital model, enabling millimeter-scale analysis of the footprints.

This virtual reconstruction revealed subtle but consistent variations in the dinosaur’s gait:

  • Footprint width shifted from narrow to wide, showing that step placement naturally varied during movement.
  • A persistent difference of about 10 cm (4 inches) between left and right step lengths suggested the dinosaur may have been limping or favoring one side.

Behavioral Insights

The findings highlight how sauropods adapted their walking style when turning and how footprint width can change naturally. This challenges previous assumptions based on shorter trackway segments, which may give misleading impressions of a dinosaur’s usual gait.

Dr. Romilio noted that this method could be applied to other long trackways worldwide, potentially unlocking behavioral information that was previously inaccessible.

Scientific Significance

The study, published in the journal Geomatics, emphasizes the importance of combining modern technology with paleontological research. By digitally reconstructing ancient trackways, scientists can uncover details about dinosaur locomotion, health, and even possible injuries.

This limping sauropod trackway not only enriches our understanding of Jurassic giants but also demonstrates how cutting-edge tools like drones and 3D modeling are revolutionizing paleontology.

Source: Sci.News – Limping Sauropod Footprints



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