Fossilized Track Suggests Dinosaurs Can Swim!

Posted by Alex in Animal, Science & Tech on July 16, 2008 at 2:31 am


Last year, paleontologist Loic Costeur and colleagues discovered a strange set of fossilized footprints that suggest that dinosaurs can swim:

The underwater trackway, which is well-preserved in sandstone, is made up of 12 consecutive prints each consisting of two to three scratch marks.

"The footprints are really peculiar in their shape and morphology – they are not at all like walking footprints," Dr Costeur told the BBC News website. "In walking footprints, you can recognise the shape of the foot; but here it is not at all the case: it is sets of grooves on the sediment surface. "You get the idea that the animals’ body was supported by water as it was scratching the sediment."

Ripple marks around the track suggested the dinosaur was swimming against a current, attempting to keep a straight path, the team said. Further investigation of the well-preserved track revealed more about the beast’s swimming style. "The dinosaur swam with alternating movements of the two hind limbs: a pelvic paddle swimming motion," said Dr Costeur.

Link – via dm

Previously on Neatorama: Strangest Dinosaur Names


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12 comments to "Fossilized Track Suggests Dinosaurs Can Swim!"

  1. Polx
    July 16th, 2008 at 3:33 am

    Fossilized Track Suggests Dinosaurs COULD HAVE Swam!

    surely

  2. ted
    July 16th, 2008 at 6:39 am

    No, they can still swim. The myth of evolution has taught you that they can no longer swim.

  3. Idil
    July 16th, 2008 at 7:41 am

    I don't understand how you could possibly deny evolution

  4. SenorMysterioso
    July 16th, 2008 at 9:36 am

    or miss a joke

  5. RM
    July 16th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    I can swim too.

  6. Neatoramawontsendmeapassword
    July 16th, 2008 at 11:36 am

    "The dinosaur swam with alternating movements of the two hind limbs: a pelvic paddle swimming motion."

    In other words, he was kicking.

  7. anon
    July 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

    What is the news here?
    Didn't we already know of many amphibious dinosaurs?
    So many animals can swim, is this really something to be excited about?

    Abolish the exclamation point. It is the root of all evil.

  8. kid_icarus
    July 16th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

    i think the greater question here is, could they do a triple lindy?

  9. Dave
    July 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    I don’t understand how you could possibly believe evolution.

    And I think Polx is almost grammatically correct; The title should read, "Fossilized Tracks Suggest Dinosaurs Could Swim" (no exclamation point, please). Since there are no remaining dinosaurs, no dinosaur "can" swim any longer.

    Just sayin'...

  10. DOJ
    July 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    Clearly the tracks could not be from anything other than a dinosaur... I mean c'mon. The tracks are old and dinosaurs are old. There's no other explanation.

  11. SenorMysterioso
    July 16th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    I thought they walked on water

  12. Thomas
    July 17th, 2008 at 1:02 am

    Now you're mixing the myth of dinosaurs with the myth of jesus.


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