The Chucheng Dinosaur Culture Research Center has discovered over 20 turtle footprints at a dinosaur fossil site during field research in Shandong Province, Eastern China.
Nearly intact turtle footprint with 5 toes. (Photo: China Daily)
According to the center, these turtle footprints were found at the Huanglonggou dinosaur fossil site in Chucheng City.
Among the discoveries is a nearly intact turtle footprint with 5 toes, which has been identified as a new species named Zhuchengichnites perfectus.
This fossil dates back to the early Cretaceous period.
Researchers note that the number of turtle footprints discovered in China is significantly lower than that of dinosaur footprints.
Zhuchengichnites perfectus is one of the best-preserved turtle footprint fossils found to date, reflecting the biological characteristics of their feet and providing new information for studying the mechanisms of footprint formation.
Chucheng is known as the “Dinosaur City” of China due to the large number of dinosaur fossils discovered there.
Since the 1960s, over 30 dinosaur fossil sites have been discovered in this area, covering nearly 1,000 km2.
