T. rex footprints discovered in North Dakota reveal walking patterns

Researchers have identified a sequence of four giant fossilized footprints in North Dakota, believed to be the first known trackway of an adult Tyrannosaurus rex. The discovery was made in the Hell Creek Formation, near Marmarth, in an area managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

The trackway spans approximately seven meters in length, consisting of two left and two right prints. Each footprint measures roughly 91 to 100 centimeters in length, with a stride distance of approximately four meters. Based on the dimensions and arrangement, scientists estimate the dinosaur was walking at a speed between 5.6 and 7.2 kilometers per hour.

The study was conducted by scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Liverpool John Moores University. Using high-resolution 3D scanning and virtual reality, researchers were able to analyze the worn tracks remotely. While the identification as a T. rex is considered highly probable due to the size, toe shape, and regional fossil density, researchers note that the wear on the fossils prevents an absolutely definitive anatomical identification.