Researchers have discovered fossilised footprints measuring just one to three centimetres, considered the smallest in the world. The discovery in China revealed the smallest dinosaur footprints recorded to date, providing new information about the evolution and distribution of these animals in the Cretaceous period. The footprints, measuring only one to three centimetres, were discovered after heavy rains in Gansu province and are surprising for their tiny size and scientific value.
Where were the world’s smallest dinosaur footprints found?
The discovery was made at the Linxia Global Geopark, located in Gansu Province in western China. Heavy rains eroded the rocky terrain and revealed five fossilised footprints dating back to the Cretaceous period. According to researchers, they are some of the smallest footprints recorded in the world, comparable only to previous discoveries in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Shandong, as well as in South Korea. These new dinosaur footprints show how this species developed during the Cretaceous period.
How big are these footprints and what species of dinosaurs did they belong to?
The footprints are one to three centimetres in size, which is extremely small for fossils. Experts believe they belonged to small dinosaurs that lived near bodies of water, contrary to the traditional idea of large predators such as the Tyrannosaurus. Although the exact species is unknown, these footprints provide clues about the behaviour and habitat of these dinosaurs.
Why is this discovery so important to science?
Palaeontologist Xin Lida, a professor at the Chinese University of Geosciences, explained that these footprints represent a fundamental discovery for three reasons:
- They expand the geographical distribution of small dinosaurs: the appearance of these footprints in Gansu indicates that, during the Cretaceous period, small dinosaurs were more common than previously thought. This helps to better reconstruct their distribution according to geological age.
- They provide clues about the evolution of birds: according to Singh, the small size of these animals is an important feature for studying the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds, one of the most important processes in modern palaeontology.
- They reveal details about their behaviour and habitat: the surface where they were found has undulations typical of sediments located near water.
How did the discovery happen?
The footprints came to light after several days of heavy rain, as erosion exposed a layer of rock with perfectly preserved impressions, which made it possible to identify not only the shape of the footprints, but also their connection to the sedimentary environment. This process is common in geologically active regions, where erosion exposes layers that may have remained hidden for millions of years.
What is the significance of this discovery for palaeontological studies?
This discovery opens up new possibilities for studying how dinosaurs evolved, how they interacted with primitive birds, what environmental conditions contributed to their existence, and how they were distributed across different regions of Asia during the Cretaceous period.
