Dinosaur Traces

A remote canyon in southeastern Colorado that has the longest known dinosaur trackway in North America, with over 1,500 fossilized footprints. What makes it unique is the multiple trackways side by side, showing sauropods and theropods walking in the same direction, possibly at the same time. This offers rare evidence of possible group travel or herding behavior.

• picketwire canyon

• dinosaur valley state park

• moab dinosaur footprints

• dinosaur ridge

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A fossil site in Morrison, Colorado, where visitors can see both dinosaur footprints and bones along a walking trail. It is known for being part of the first major dinosaur discoveries in the United States, and has footprints from large plant-eaters and clawed meat-eaters. It shows hundreds of footprints, including the famous “bulge” tracks, where pressure from dinosaur feet created shapes below the surface.

• picketwire canyon

• dinosaur valley state park

• moab dinosaur footprints

• dinosaur ridge

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

These tracks are found within multiple dry, desert locations. These fossil sites include tracks with mud cracks and ripple marks, showing that the area was once a wet environment. Some prints show different gait patterns, like changes in walking speed or direction, making it a great site for studying dinosaur movement. It’s also near sites that include tail drag marks and swimming traces.

• picketwire canyon

• dinosaur valley state park

• moab dinosaur footprints

• dinosaur ridge

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Located in Glen Rose, Texas.  It is a riverbed site where dinosaur footprints can be seen when water levels are low. Some tracks appear to show chase scenes, where meat-eating dinosaurs followed plant-eaters. This place is unusual because the tracks are found inside the Paluxy River, and people can stand directly in the footprints.

• picketwire canyon

• dinosaur valley state park

• moab dinosaur footprints

• dinosaur ridge

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A steep limestone cliff in Sucre, Bolivia, that holds one of the largest collections of dinosaur footprints in the world, with over 5,000 tracks. These footprints are unusual because they are found on a vertical wall, which used to be flat ground but was lifted over time by earthquakes. It has the longest single trackway ever found—a small theropod dinosaur walked over 1,000 feet across soft ground.

• cal orck'o

• picketwire canyon

• dinosaur ridge

• kenton

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A site in a western part of a state known for rare dinosaur tracks and bones from the Early Cretaceous period. Unlike larger sites, it has fewer but important fossils that help scientists study dinosaurs in ancient river and coastal environments. It is one of the only places in this particular state with both trace and body fossils.  It is also the site of the highest point in a certain state called Black Mesa.

• cal orck'o

• picketwire canyon

• dinosaur ridge

• kenton

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The scientific study of trace fossils, like dinosaur footprints, burrows, tail drag marks, or feeding traces. It helps scientists understand how extinct animals behaved and moved in their environments.

• ichnology

• ichnites

• feeding marks

• kenton

Fossilized footprints or tracks made by ancient animals. These trace fossils were left in soft ground like mud or sand and later turned to stone, giving clues about the size, speed, and walking style of the animal.

• ichnology

• ichnites

• feeding marks

• kenton

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Trace fossils left behind by animals when they feed or hunt. They can include bite marks, scratches, gouges, or trails made as animals tear into food, scavenge, or dig. This type of trace can be found on bones, shells, plants, and even rocks.  They can help scientists figure out what animals ate millions of years ago and the size and shape of an animal’s teeth and jaws.

• ichnology

• ichnites

• feeding marks

• kenton

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2