On a 25km stretch of coastline in Western Australia, there lies a prehistoric treasure trove.
Scientists have published details of the world's biggest dinosaur footprints, found in Western Australia, with the sauropod prints measuring a whopping 1.7 metres (5.6 feet).
The footprints top a dinosaur footprint found in the Mongolian desert, reported last year, that measured 1.6 metres (5.3 feet).
The scientific description of the 1.7-metre footprints has been published by University of Queensland vertebrate paleontologist Steve Salisbury, in the Memoir of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, after a two- to three-year peer review process.
Photo: Richard Hunter lies next to a 1.7m dinosaur footprint belonging to a sauropod. (Supplied: Steve Salisbury)
There are also tracks from meat-eating theropods that walked on two feet and left three-toed prints with shapes similar to those many remember from the film “Jurassic Park.”
In this case, the three-toed prints have a special significance: In local lore, the tracks belong to Marala, an Emu man who journeyed through the region, giving laws that dictated how people should behave.
Meat-eating Therapod tracks
The footprints were found on the north-western coast of Western Australia, where Dr Salisbury's research project has revealed the journeys of dinosaurs up and down the coast.
"We've got several tracks up in that area that are about 1.7 metres long," Dr Salisbury said.
"So most people would be able to fit inside tracks that big, and they indicate animals that are probably around 5.3 to 5.5 metres (17.4 to 18 feet) at the hip, which is enormous."
The dinosaur that left the prints on what is now sandstone rock platforms, on a remote coastline north of Broome, was the largest member of the sauropods, which includes well-known dinosaurs such as the brontosaurus.
Artist's impression of the sauropod Brachiosaurus
The dinosaur is so huge that scientists were questioning whether or not it was possible for anything living to be that size and for this reason, the prints were initially overlooked.
Remarkably they’re not the only footprints that were found in the area, they’re just one of 21 different species.
"With 21 different types of tracks represented, that makes it the most diverse dinosaur footprint fauna in the world," Dr Salisbury said.
As many as 21 different types of dinosaur tracks have been identified in a 16-mile stretch of remote coastline in Western Australia. The discovery is "unparalleled" in Australia and even the world,...
Dr Salisbury started his investigation after the area was listed as a gas processing facility.
"When the area was selected as the site for a liquid natural gas processing precinct, it was assumed there was nothing there. This is where we got contacted to come in and have closer look, and it didn't take long for us to realise that … there was a spectacular dinosaur track fauna preserved there that was at risk".
Thanks to Salisbury and his discovery the area is now heritage listed. His hopes are that people will visit the area to see and understand the traditions of the Walmadan people and the land’s prehistoric history.
"So spend time walking through there, learning the stories and seeing things as they come up during that walk."
Sources:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/australia/walking-with-giants.aspx
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/largest-dinosaur-footprint-sauropod-australia-2017-3?r=US&IR=T
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