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Dinosaur Footprints



  • Hey Students!  

    You are here because you get a chance to explore some real dino footprints online!  Read Below.

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    Start by watching this video. Then come back to this page and continue reading.

    • Near Glen Rose, Texas, there are some of the best preserved dinosaur footprints in the world uncovered by the erosional forces of the Paluxy River.  You are going to take a closer look at the "Denio Branch" site that is part of Dinosaur Valley State Park.  View the overview map of the area to see where it is and then come back to this page to continue.

    • The dinosaur tracks at this location are approximatly 112 million years old making them from the early Cretaceous time period.  Most of the tracks where probably made by Acrocanthosaurus.

    • Take a look at a sketch of the Denio Site to see what it looks like.  Zoom in to study it in more detail. Pay particular attention to the tracks labeled "A1-A2-A3... and B1-B2-B3..."

    • Now take a look at a real image of track A crossing track B. Can you locate where the tracks are on the map?


    • Glance back at the map and look at the larger footprints at the top labeled "S1-S2-S3..."  These were probably made by the large 4-legged herbivore Pleurocoelus. Take a look at these types of footprints here and here.

    • Lastly, take a look at the curved mark in the center of this image.  This was probably made by Acrocanthosaurus dragging its tail through the mud. Can you find it on the map?


    If you get a chance, think about these questions:
    1. What can footprints tell us about the dinosaurs that made them?
    2. How can you tell if a dinosaur walked on two feet or four?
    3. What type of information about dinosaurs can't we get by studying their footprints? What would we look at instead?
    4. What are some things about dinosaurs we might never know?