First Adult T. Rex Trackway Discovered in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation

1-Minute Brief

The discovery of these rare footprints provides new insights into the movement and behavior of adult T. rex.

Key Facts

• The trackway consists of four large footprints stretching over 23 feet in length.
• The footprints were found in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation.
• The tracks are estimated to be approximately 66.5 million years old.
• Scientists describe the footprints as 'human-sized' despite belonging to an adult T. rex.
• This is the first-known trackway attributed to a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex.

What Happened

Paleontologists have uncovered a series of four large footprints in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation, identified as the first-known trackway of an adult Tyrannosaurus rex.

Why It Matters

This find offers direct evidence of how adult T. rex moved, helping researchers better understand the locomotion and daily activity of one of the most iconic dinosaurs.

What's Next

Researchers plan to study the trackway further to analyze gait, speed, and potential behavior patterns, and may search for additional tracks in the region.