Read this in Richard Attenborough’s voice: “Welcome to Dinosaur Valley State Park.”
While it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as Jurassic Park, this is in fact the location of the latest dinosaur discovery. Footprints believed to be from an Acrocanthosaurus which walked the earth 113 million years ago were uncovered in a river that had dried up due to a severe drought.
According to park official Stephanie Salinas Garcia, in normal weather conditions, the dinosaur tracks are usually underwater and the footprints are filled with sediment that makes them less visible.
Acrocanthosaurus size
The park official told CNN that the carnivore likely weighed seven tons and was 15 feet tall, so even taller than the acrocanthosaurus in the size comparison below.
Dinosaur tracks soon to be hidden again
Despite a major drought affecting more than 60% of Texas at the moment, weather forecasters state that rain is on the way and the tracks will soon be covered up again.
This is apparently a good thing as the water protects the prints from natural weathering and erosion say park officials, which would explain how these footprints have been preserved for millions of years.
“While these newer dinosaur tracks were visible for a brief amount of time, it brought about the wonder and excitement about finding new dinosaur tracks at the park.” said Garcia.
A park full of tracks
The Dinosaur Valley State Park is home to many dinosaur track sites and is a National Natural Landmark.
In 1908, a huge flood scoured the Paluxy riverbed and unearthed large three-toed theropod (carnivorous bipedal dinosaur) tracks which were discovered a year later. Two decades later, these tracks were found on sale in a New Mexico shop by a fossil collector. He decided to visit the Texas location and discovered more theropod tracks as well as sauropod (large quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur) tracks.
Opening in 1972, the park’s mission is to preserve its dinosaur track sites to allow people to learn from them.
“Dinosaur Valley State Park will continue to protect these 113-million year-old tracks not only for present, but future generations.” said Garcia.
“Being able to find these discoveries and experience new dinosaur tracks is always an exciting time at the park!”