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Dinosaur footprints excavated on opposite sides of the Atlantic connect ancient continents


Dinosaur footprints excavated on opposite sides of the Atlantic connect ancient continents

In an astonishing discovery that has fascinated paleontologists worldwide, matching sets of Dinosaur footprints from the Lower Cretaceous were excavated on two different continents—South America And Africa– and offer unprecedented insights into the Earth’s geological past. These footprints, more than 260 in totalprovide strong evidence of the last connections between these landmasses before they were broken by the opening of the South Atlantic almost 120 million years ago.

Discovered in Brazil’s Sousa Basin And Cameroon’s Koum BasinThese footprints represent an extraordinary find that connects the history of two continents that were once part of the supercontinent GondwanaThe discovery suggests that dinosaurs were able to move freely in these regions before the continents were separated by tectonic forces, creating the ocean that separates them today. Paleontologists believe the footprints are from a variety of dinosaurs, including Theropods, SauropodsAnd Ornithischiawho crossed the land bridge between Africa and South America in this prehistoric era.

A look into the Earth’s distant past

The discovery of these matching dinosaur footprints is not only evidence of the incredible movement of Earth’s land masses, but also offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the creatures that populated the ancient supercontinent. According to Louis L. Jacobsa paleontologist at Southern Methodist University (SMU) The head of the research: “We found that these footprints are similar in age. They are also similar in their geological and plate tectonic context. In terms of their shapes, they are almost identical.”

Two representative theropod tracks from the Koum Basin in northern Cameroon. Source: Smu
Two representative theropod tracks from the Koum Basin in northern Cameroon. Source: SMU

The identical footprints on both sides of the Atlantic are a vivid reminder of a time when Africa and South America were still connected, allowing land-dwelling dinosaurs to migrate freely between the two regions. These tracks were preserved in mud and silt deposits along ancient rivers and lakes, creating fossilized records of dinosaur movements in areas now covered by more than 3,700 miles of the ocean.

The region in which this Footprints corresponds to a narrow land bridge that once connected Northeast Brazil with Cameroon. This ancient land bridge was an important route for dinosaurs and other species to migrate between the two continents before the final separation occurred. As Earth’s tectonic plates continued to shift and the supercontinent began to break apart, this land bridge sank into the sea and the South Atlantic Ocean was formed, permanently separating the continents and cutting off migration routes.

Theropod footprint from the Sousa Basin, Lower Cretaceous, northeastern Brazil. Image credit: Ismar De Souza Carvalho

Geological evidence supports the discovery of the footprint

In addition to the footprints, the researchers discovered fossil pollen in the same sediment layers, which further extends the traces to about 120 million years agoThe traces were found in geological formations known as Half-graben basinthat were formed when the Earth’s crust began to break apart during the continental rifting process. These basins contain layers of ancient river and lake deposits that provide a wealth of information about the environment in which these dinosaurs lived.

“These river valleys may have provided special pathways for life to cross continents 120 million years ago,” Jacobs explains. The rivers and lakes in these basins supported thriving ecosystems with lush vegetation that herbivorous dinosaurs and other species, while muddy sediments contain the footprints of carnivorous theropods and other living creatures. These traces are significant not only because they open a window into the past, but also because they reveal the crucial role these river systems played in connecting the two landmasses.

The geological formations in which the traces were found provide important clues about the environment in the last days of the GondwanaAs the land masses drifted apart, magma began to rise from the Earth’s mantle, forming new oceanic crust and eventually filling the gap with water, creating the South Atlantic Ocean. The footprints found in the basins are among the last physical evidence of dinosaur movement between continents before this vast ocean severed the connection forever.

The broader implications for continental drift and dinosaur migration

The discovery of these dinosaur footprints on opposite sides of the Atlantic provides compelling new evidence of the dramatic changes that have shaped the Earth’s surface over millions of years. The study, conducted by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Scienceis a tribute to the deceased paleontologist Martin Lockleywhose pioneering work in ichnology (the study of fossilized footprints) laid the foundation for understanding these ancient migrations.

This Footprints are not just tracks in the ground; they are direct evidence of how plate tectonics and continental drift have shaped life on Earth. By studying these tracks and the geological contexts in which they were found, researchers can better understand how species have adapted to and navigated changing environments over time. The fact that these tracks are nearly identical on both continents suggests that the same species of dinosaur roamed freely across the land bridge before it was separated by the forming ocean.

The results also underline the importance of Gondwana’s fragmentation and how the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates led to the isolation of species on different continents, ultimately causing evolutionary change. As the South Atlantic formed, species on both continents began to evolve independently, leading to the biodiversity we see today. This discovery underscores the importance of studying fossils to understand the dynamic forces that have shaped our planet’s biological and geological history.

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