Scientists have discovered about 50 giant footprints left behind by the world’s largest dinosaurs dating back 170 million years. The prints are thought to be the oldest dinosaur fossils ever found in Scotland. The tracks were made in a muddy, shallow lagoon on the Isle of Skye. Most of the prints were made by long-necked sauropods, which stood up to 2 metres tall, and by similarly-sized theropods, the older cousins of Tyrannosaurus rex. The find is globally important as it is rare evidence of the Middle Jurassic period, from which few fossil sites have been found around the world.
They were made by long-necked sauropods and theropods, dinosaurs which stood up to two metres tall and were related to Brontosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex respectively.
About 50 footprints were discovered at Brothers’ Point, a headland on Skye’s Trotternish peninsula.
The largest was 70cm (27.5in) across, left by a sauropod, while the largest theropod track was around 50cm (19.6in).
Tidal conditions made studying the footprints difficult, but researchers were able to identify two distinct trackways in addition to many individual footprints.
Using drones to create a map of the site, the scientists also created 3D pictures using a pair of cameras and customised software.
Credit : Sky News
Picture Credit : Google
