The last of these six species of dinosaurs to walk on English soil 110 million years ago have been found in the Kent in southeastern England near London.
Footprints were found on coastal rocks in Foxstone, County, Kent. There, storm conditions affect the cliffs and coastal waters, leading to the continuous exposure of new fossils.
Advertising
According to David Martil, a professor of paleontology, “this is the first time that dinosaur footprints have been found in layers known as ‘foxtone formation’, an unusual discovery because these dinosaurs have roamed the country before. To perish ”.
“They were walking near where the White Dunes of Dover are now,” says Martil. “The next time you are on a boat, when you see that amazing cliff, imagine it,” pleases the professor.
A variety of footprints show that there was a high diversity of dinosaurs in southern England
According to Phys.org, the identified footprints are from a variety of dinosaurs, which shows that there was a relatively high diversity of these animals in southern England 110 million years ago, at the end of the early Cretaceous.
Types are believed to be: Ankylosaurus, armored dinosaurs with strong appearances like living tanks; Three-toed toe dinosaurs such as theropods, Tyrannosaurus rex; And birds named after dinosaurs, or because their hip structure is somewhat bird-like.
Philip Hotland, collection supervisor at the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, is the lead author of the study. “In 2011, I came across unusual records of Foxstone rock formation. They seemed to repeat themselves, and I thought they might be caught,” Hotland said.
This, he said, contradicts what most geologists say about rocks in England. “But I was looking for more footprints, and as the waves came out more and more through the erosion, I found even better ones.”
Hotland says more work is needed to make the scientific community realize its validity. For this reason, he sought the help of experts from the University of Portsmouth to improve his research on his findings.
read more:
The trail of footprints similar to the elephant footprint has probably been identified as having a bird, of which a similar footprint, but smaller in size, was also found in China during the same period.
The largest track, 80 cm wide and 65 cm long, was identified as belonging to a dinosaur such as Iguanotone. Iguanodontes were also plant species that grew up to 10 meters in length and walked on two or four legs.
Hotland says: “We have discovered that dinosaurs went ashore, and we have found new evidence that changes the geographical interpretation of the layers of their modern cousins, birds, and Foxstone formations.”
He explains that what has been published about the geography of an area is not always conclusive and proves that new understandings can be made. This article was published in the Annals of the Geographers Association, the official publication of the Geographical Society of the United Kingdom. Some of the footprints are currently on display at the Foxstone Museum.
We’re watching our new videos Web light? Subscribe to our channel!