Although the best known fossils
of dinosaurs are fossilized body parts such as bones, teeth, horns, skin, feathers, scales
and fossilized soft body parts,
the dinosaurs also left many
trace fossils (technically known as "ichnofossils")
which show their activities during life. Trace fossils include
gizzard stones (stones swallowed to assist in digestion),
dung (technically known as "coprolites"),
nests, burrows, toothmarks,
and footprints.
Dinosaur footprints, and tracks containing multiple footprints
can tell scientists a lot about dinosaurs. In some cases, this may
allow scientists to confirm information they already know (for example, if
fossilized bones suggest an animal walked on four legs, this can be confirmed
by its footprints), but in other cases, scientists may discover new facts
about dinosaurs from their footprints.
Dinosaur footprints can tell us about the shape of the particular
type of dinosaur's feet.
From the depth of the footprints, we may be able to
estimate this type of dinosaur's
weight.
If there are a series of footprints (known as "tracks" or a "trackway"),
we can tell whether this particular
type of dinosaur
walked on two legs ("bipedally") or on four legs ("quadrupedally").
If there are a series of footprints,
we may able to determine information about this particular
type of dinosaur's
gait, and the speed at which it was moving.
If there are a series of footprints,
we can tell whether the particular
type of dinosaur
was travelling alone or in a group.
If we find footprints from a group of several animals travelling together,
we can determine whether that group only include animals of approximately
the same age, or a mix of adult and juvenile animals.
Dinosaur footprints have been found at many different locations around the
world, including a major find that was made in
2009
in the Jura Mountains near
Lyon,
France.
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