A massive footprint left by a carnivorous dinosaur approximately 166 million years ago has been discovered on the coast of England, CNN reported on February 15.
According to reports, this footprint measures nearly a meter in length and is the largest footprint of a theropod dinosaur from the Jurassic period found in Yorkshire, Northern England. The gigantic creature likely left the footprint while resting or crouching, pressing its foot deep into the ground.
The 166-million-year-old massive footprint discovered on the coast of Yorkshire, England. Photo: Marie Woods/University of Manchester.
Dr. Dean Lomax shared a photo of this incredible discovery on Twitter, stating: “This is the largest theropod dinosaur footprint ever found in Yorkshire. It was discovered by Rob Taylor and Marie Woods on the beach at Burniston Bay in 2021.”
According to NDTV, archaeologist Marie Woods discovered this footprint in April 2021 while walking along the coast at Burniston Bay. She later contacted paleontologist Dr. Dean Lomax for his opinion on what she had found.
Their discovery has recently been published in the journal of the Yorkshire Geological Society.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I had seen a few smaller footprints while walking with friends, but nothing like this before,” Marie Woods said in a statement.
According to the study, the footprint likely belongs to a theropod dinosaur—a class of bipedal dinosaurs with three toes on each foot, which includes the Tyrannosaurus rex. The size of the footprint suggests that the dinosaur may have belonged to the genus Megalosaurus, standing approximately 2.4-2.7 meters tall at the hips.
“The characteristics of the footprint suggest that this Megalosaurus theropod may have been squatting in the mud. It’s fascinating to think that this creature could have been strolling on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the Jurassic,” Dr. Dean Lomax remarked.
This footprint is at risk of erosion but has now been restored and donated to the Scarborough Museum and Gallery.
