DISCOVERIES
Bolt’s Rivals
A paleontologist team discovered that some dinosaur species were so fast, they could outrun Olympic Gold medalist Usain Bolt – the fastest person in the world, Reuters reported.
In a new study, researchers examined two trackways of fossilized footprints found in northern Spain dating to the Cretaceous Period, about 120 million years ago.
Each track showed an impression of a three-toed foot with claws. Scientists say they were made by two theropods of the same species – a group of primarily meat-eating dinosaurs that walked on two feet.
Researchers estimated the running speed of the two dinos by calculating the creature’s hip height and stride length. Their results showed that one of the extinct giant lizards could reach speeds of about 27.7 miles per hour – nearly matching sprinter Bolt’s highest-achieved speed of 27.8 miles per hour.
That speed is one of the highest ever estimated for a dinosaur. The discovery also provides fresh insight into the velocity of dinosaurs. Previous fossilized tracks mostly show dinos walking, instead of running.
The team is still determining whether the theropods were fish-eating Spinosaurs or Carcharodontosaurs, known for their sharp teeth.
The researchers added that the creatures were probably almost 16 feet long, more than six feet tall and weighed between 440 to 661 pounds.
“Their capacity to run very quickly and their maneuvering abilities surely allowed them to chase prey very efficiently,” said lead author Pablo Navarro-Lorbes. “And of course, I wouldn’t like to be caught by this guy on a riverbank.”
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