Footprints reveal dinosaurs crossed Atlantic between Africa and South America
New research indicates that dinosaurs traversed a common route between Africa and South America approximately 120 million years ago, prior to the continents drifting apart. Over 260 dinosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous Period have been discovered in present-day Brazil and Cameroon. These regions are now separated by over 6,000 km across the Atlantic Ocean.
Footprints share age, shape, and geologic background
The footprints share the same age, shape, and geologic background according to paleontologist Louis L. Jacobs who led the study. The research was recently published by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. The majority of these fossil footprints were made by three-toed theropod dinosaurs as per research associate Diana P. Vineyard's findings.
Continental drift created favorable conditions for dinosaurs
The footprints provide insight into how shifting landmasses created favorable conditions for dinosaurs before the supercontinents split into today's continents. These footprints, found in mud and silt along old rivers and lakes on Gondwana, a supercontinent that split from Pangea, have been preserved. Jacobs mentioned that northeastern Brazil and Cameroon once formed a narrow link between Africa and South America, enabling possible dinosaur migration between the two continents.
Formation of South Atlantic Ocean separated continents
Around 140 million years ago, the continents of Africa and South America began to drift apart, causing cracks in the Earth's crust. As tectonic plates shifted, molten rock from below formed a new crust on the ocean floor. This geological activity gradually led to the creation of the South Atlantic Ocean between these two landmasses.
Footprints offer unique insights into dinosaur behavior
Dinosaur fossils provide insights into ancient creatures, but footprints offer unique clues about their behavior. For example, parallel tracks might indicate that the animals were moving together, pointing to possible herd behavior. According to Jacobs, footprints reveal how dinosaurs moved, the groups they traveled with, their surroundings, direction, and specific location. This behavioral information enhances our understanding of how these ancient creatures lived and interacted with their environment.
