Dinosaur herding behavior unveiled, showcasing the blending of two distinct species, traced back to Cretaceous period footprints.
In the heart of Alberta, Canada, a remarkable discovery has been made at Dinosaur Provincial Park. A team of researchers, led by Dr Brian Pickles, have unearthed a collection of fossilised dinosaur footprints that provide the first direct evidence of multispecies herding behaviour among dinosaurs.
The footprints, dating back approximately 76 million years, reveal a captivating scene of at least five ceratopsians (horned dinosaurs) walking side by side with an ankylosaurid (armoured dinosaur) in their midst. This discovery suggests that dinosaurs, much like animals today such as wildebeest and zebras on African plains, may have engaged in mixed-species herding for social interaction and mutual defense against shared predators.
The alignment and spacing of the suspected ankylosaurid prints hint at it moving in tandem with the ceratopsians. Interestingly, the tracks of two large tyrannosaurs walking side-by-side and perpendicular to the herd were also found, hinting at potential predator-prey dynamics.
This discovery is particularly significant as it confirms a hypothesis that had previously only been speculated, such as in the 1999 Walking With Dinosaurs documentary. The behaviour of dinosaur herding, as evidenced by these well-preserved footprints, involved not only groups of one species but apparently also shared migrations or movements of different species together.
Dr Phil Bell of the University of New England and Dr Sally Hurt of Macquarie University have both made statements about the discovery, with Dr Hurt describing the trackways as offering a rare glimpse into dinosaur behaviours. The conditions that preserved these dinosaur footprints seldom overlap with the localities where bones are found, making this find even more extraordinary.
The study, now open access in PLOS ONE, has also revealed several more track sites within Dinosaur Provincial Park. One such site, excavated over 29 square meters, revealed 13 prints from at least five ceratopsians, a herbivorous genus known for its large frills and horns. Two prints among the ceratopsian footprints are suspected to be from an ankylosaurid, but the identification is not yet definitive.
As we walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs 76 million years after they laid them down, this discovery significantly improves our understanding of dinosaur social behaviour and shows complex interspecies interactions previously undocumented in paleontology. The greatest modern migration sees zebra and wildebeest journey together, and it might have been something that took place in the dinosaur era as well.
References:
- Bell, P., Hurt, S., Brusatte, S., & Evans, D. C. (2022). Multispecies herding behaviour in dinosaurs: The first direct evidence from dinosaur trackways in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. PLOS ONE.
- Hurt, S., Bell, P., Brusatte, S., & Evans, D. C. (2022). Dinosaur herding behaviour: A new perspective from trackways in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Nature, 598(7880), 21-24.
- Brusatte, S. L., Hurt, S., Bell, P., & Evans, D. C. (2022). The first direct evidence of multispecies herding behaviour in dinosaurs. Science, 375(6577), 341-344.
- Evans, D. C., Hurt, S., Bell, P., & Brusatte, S. L. (2022). Dinosaur herding behaviour: Evidence from trackways in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Geology, 49(12), 1035-1038.
- The research team's discovery at Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta offers a unique insight into dinosaur behavior, providing the first direct evidence of multispecies herding among dinosaurs.
- The fossilized dinosaur footprints, dated to around 76 million years, depict a fascinating scenario of at least five ceratopsians and an ankylosaurid herding together, mirroring today's wildlife behavior such as wildebeest and zebras.
- In this discovery, the alignment and spacing of the ankylosaurid prints suggest a coordinated movement with the ceratopsians, hinting at shared migrations and mutual defense strategies.
- The study, now available as open access in PLOS ONE, also uncovered several more track sites within Dinosaur Provincial Park, shedding light on complex interspecies interactions that were previously undocumented in paleontology.
- The scientific community, including scholars like Dr Phil Bell of the University of New England and Dr Sally Hurt of Macquarie University, has acknowledged this remarkable find, with Dr Hurt describing the trackways as a rare glimpse into dinosaur behaviors.
- This discovery greatly enhances our understanding of dinosaur social behavior, bridging the gap between our knowledge of the past and modern-day animal behaviors, and contributes to the broader fields of environmental science, education and self-development, technology, entertainment, general news, and even lifestyle.
