Dozens of giant footprints
discovered on a Scottish island are helping shed light on an important period
in dinosaur evolution.
The tracks were made some 170
million years ago, in a muddy, shallow lagoon in what is now the north-east
coast of the Isle of Skye.
Most of the prints were made by
long-necked sauropods - which stood up to two metres tall - and by similarly
sized theropods, which were 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.
Researchers measured,
photographed and analysed about 50 footprints in a tidal area at Brothers'
Point - Rubha nam Brathairean - a dramatic headland on Skye's Trotternish
peninsula.
The footprints were difficult to
study owing to tidal conditions, the impact of weathering and changes to the
landscape. In spite of this, scientists identified two trackways in addition to
many isolated foot prints.
Researchers used drone
photographs to make a map of the site. Additional images were collected using a
paired set of cameras and tailored software to help model the prints.
Analysis of the clearest prints -
including the overall shape of the track outline, the shape and orientation of
the toes, and the presence of claws - enabled scientists to ascribe them to
sauropods and theropods.
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