Lost world found: Identical dino tracks found on opposite sides of Atlantic Ocean

The team uncovered dinosaur footprints on what are now parts of two different continents: Brazil and Cameroon.

“We determined that in terms of age, these footprints were similar. In their geological and plate tectonic contexts, they were also similar. In terms of their shapes, they are almost identical,” said Louis L. Jacobs, SMU paleontologist. 

Footprints left by various species

The dinosaur tracks were discovered in the Borborema region of northeastern Brazil and the Koum Basin of northern Cameroon. These provide irrefutable evidence of the land bridge that once connected the two continents.

The fossilized footprints were discovered more than 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) apart. They were preserved in the sediments of ancient rivers and lakes.

While most fossilized footprints were left by theropod individuals with three toes, some may have been made by sauropods or ornithischians.

The fossils of pollen found in the track sediments suggest that they are 120 million years old.

Trackways can reveal a lot about dinosaur behavior, from dinosaur species to how fast they could run. These fossilized dinosaur tracks may allow researchers to reconstruct the lives and environments of these fascinating creatures.

Land disappeared

As Gondwana began to break apart, the massive land bridge between Africa and South America slowly disappeared around 140 million years ago. This caused cracks, or rifts, to form in the Earth’s crust. As the tectonic plates moved apart, magma rose from the Earth’s interior, creating a “new oceanic crust.” Eventually, the South Atlantic Ocean filled the gap between the new continents.

“One of the youngest and narrowest geological connections between Africa and South America was the elbow of northeastern Brazil nestled against what is now the coast of Cameroon along the Gulf of Guinea,” Jacobs explained. “The two continents were continuous along that narrow stretch, so that animals on either side of that connection could potentially move across it.”

Interestingly, the dinosaur footprints were found in areas with half-graben basins, which are geological structures formed during rifting. As per the press release, these basins contain ancient river and lake sediments, providing evidence of the major geological events that occurred in the region.

“Plants fed the herbivores and supported a food chain. Muddy sediments left by the rivers and lakes contain dinosaur footprints, including those of meat-eaters, documenting that these river valleys could provide specific avenues for life to travel across the continents 120 million years ago,” concluded Jacobs.