Melissa Lowery and Anthony Martin examine a dinosaur track. Image credit: Ruth Schowalter.
SciNews has a story about the discovery of dinosaur footprints in Australia. The footprints date back 120 million years, which corresponds with the early Cretaceous Period. At that time, Australia was still connected to Antarctica. The footprints were found in the Wonthaggi Formation south of Melbourne, Australia. They were made by a medium to large theropod and a small ornithopod.
“These numerous tracks are the best evidence yet that these former polar environments supported large carnivores,” said Emory University’s Professor Anthony Martin.
“The large theropods would likely have fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish and turtles.”
“The hip height of that theropod would have been about the same as the full height of a tall, modern-day human.”
“The Australian state of Victoria’s rocky coastal strata mark where the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break up around 100 million years ago, separating Australia from Antarctica.”
“The polar environment at that time was a rift valley with braided rivers.”
