World's Smallest Sauropod Footprints Discovered in China

Recent discoveries in China have revealed significant dinosaur track sites, including the world's smallest sauropod footprints in Xizang and fossilized tracks from carnivorous dinosaurs in Gansu Province. The sauropod tracks, estimated to be around 170 million years old, range from 8.8 to 15.5 centimeters and were left by at least six dinosaurs identified as Parabrontopodus. In Gansu, scientists found 67 three-toed tracks believed to belong to Grallator ssatoi, a carnivorous dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, providing insights into their social behaviors. These discoveries were published in the journal Historical Biology, indicating the potential for further understanding of dinosaur distribution and behavior. The Xizang tracks highlight the diversity of sauropods in the area, while the Gansu tracks were exposed during construction activities in the 1970s and recognized for their significance only recently. Both findings contribute to the growing body of paleontological evidence in China, enhancing our understanding of ancient ecosystems.