Dinosaur Tracking

Fossil footprints have also shown that at least some Pterosaurs were able to walk on level ground, while dragging the edges of their wings along the ground as the animals walked unsteadily. (See my article "Pterosaurs: The First Flyers" for more information about Pterosaurs.)

Fossil footprints left by mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds have all been found. Footprints of birds are rare, and the early paleontologist Edward Hitchcock (1793 to 1864), discovered many trackways left in the Triassic rocks of Connecticut by what he thought were extict birds. They were actually the first dinosaur footprints to be discovered and properly identified as belonging to a bi-pedal, three-toed species of dinosaur.

Coprolites, or fossilized dung, are another type of trace fossil. See my article "Coprolites" for more information.

An excellent book about dinosaur trackways is Tracking Dinosaurs: A new look at an ancient world by Martin Lockley.

Be sure to visit my web site for links to National and State Parks that feature fossils or dinosaur trackways.

An Overview of Dinosaur Tracking

Emory University's Trace Fossil Page

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