Dinosaur tracks found in Brazil and Cameroon rewrite Earth's history
The discovery of identical dinosaur tracks on two distant continents sheds new light on Earth's geological history. Tracks from around 120 million years ago reveal how the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart due to seismic processes.
Scientists have discovered that dinosaur tracks found in Brazil and Cameroon are nearly identical despite being on two continents. This discovery, dated to approximately 120 million years ago, is evidence of the proximity of these continents during the Early Cretaceous period. At that time, dinosaurs could freely move between South America and Africa while the supercontinent Gondwana was breaking apart. This article explores how these studies help to understand the ancient geological configuration of Earth and how Gondwana's breakup affected prehistoric animal migration.
Identical dinosaur tracks on two separate continents
Recent archaeological discoveries reveal that dinosaur tracks found in Brazil and Cameroon are nearly identical despite being on two different continents. More than 260 such tracks have been found, dated to around 120 million years ago. These tracks were preserved in the mud deposits of ancient rivers and lakes, providing valuable information on the geographical conditions of the Early Cretaceous period.
Why is this important? The identical nature of these tracks indicates that the continents of South America and Africa were much closer together at that time, allowing dinosaurs to move freely between them. This discovery provides valuable information about the ancient migrations of dinosaurs and the geological configuration from millions of years ago.
What species of dinosaurs left these tracks? The tracks belong to various groups of dinosaurs, including theropods, sauropods, and ornithopods. Their presence on two continents confirms that these animals could travel between lands before they separated due to tectonic processes.
Seismic split from 140 million years ago
The discovery of identical dinosaur tracks on two continents sheds new light on geological processes from around 140 million years ago. At that time, the supercontinent Gondwana began to break apart, separating Africa from South America.
What were the effects of this split? This breakup led to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean, separating the continents and creating new geological conditions. Cracks in the Earth's crust filled with magma contributed to forming the new oceanic system that we know today as the Atlantic.
What traces of this process can we see today? The traces of the seismic split are visible in the so-called half-graben basins on both continents, which contain sediments from ancient rivers and lakes. Additionally, pollen fossils date back 120 million years, and, of course, dinosaur tracks have been discovered.
These discoveries show the significant impact that changes in the configuration of continents had on the evolution of life on Earth and how paleontological studies can provide information about ancient migrations and the ecology of prehistoric animals.
