Bolivia was placed at the center of global paleontology following the documentation of the largest set of dinosaur footprints known. More than 16,000 tracks, swim marks, and tail drags were identified at the Carreras Pampa site, located in the Torotoro National Park.
The work was carried out by an international team between 2019 and 2024, becoming one of the most complete records of the Late Cretaceous. The diversity, quality of preservation, and extent of the site position it as a global reference.
The discovery was published in the PLOS One journal and brought together specialists from scientific institutions in Bolivia and the United States. The result is an unprecedented catalog of behaviors, trajectories, and prehistoric environments.
A unique site for its scale and complexity
Carreras Pampa gathers 1,321 continuous tracks and 289 isolated footprints totaling 16,600 marks distributed across nine sectors. The studied surface covers 7,485 square meters, with a density exceeding five tracks per square meter.
Diversity is one of the most notable points. Theropods, possible primitive birds, and other groups left footprints showing intense activity on the ancient coastline. The variety of sizes suggests the presence of individuals of different ages.
The exceptional preservation allowed distinguishing styles and morphotypes that reveal interactions between the animals, the mud, and the water. This quality is unusual even in the most recognized sites.
Behaviors recorded in the rock
The footprints allow reconstructing movement patterns that were previously only known through inferences. The tail drags indicate areas of slow transit or substrate instability, while the swim marks show moments when the dinosaurs were partially submerged.
The study also recognizes variations in speed and direction of the trajectories, allowing for an understanding of the dynamics of groups sharing the same coastal space.
The associated presence of primitive birds provides information about the ecosystem and coexistence with theropod dinosaurs.
Cutting-edge technology for a millimetric record
The team conducted field campaigns for five years, under the authorization of the National System of Protected Areas of Bolivia. Each footprint was documented with photographs, measurements, and three-dimensional scans.
The photogrammetry techniques allowed for the assessment of depth, orientation, and wear. The digital modeling helped classify preservation styles linked to moisture, sediment composition, and subsequent biological activity.
Statistical data also revealed bimodal patterns of speed and direction, related to movements along the ancient coast.
A vulnerable heritage requiring urgent protection
Researchers warned about the risk of erosion in the area. The rains and watercourses threaten the integrity of the footprints, so diversion and conservation works were recommended.
Authorities at Torotoro National Park have already started interventions to mitigate erosion and ensure that this natural archive remains accessible for science.
The paleontological value makes Carreras Pampa a key site for understanding the Cretaceous ecosystems and the diversity of dinosaur behaviors.
What data these types of findings provide
Footprint sites provide unique information that bone fossils cannot always offer. The footprints allow for the reconstruction of behaviors in motion, such as speeds, trajectories, and group dynamics.
The swim marks reveal how animals interacted with bodies of water and how they adapted their locomotion to different depths. The tail drags record moments of prolonged contact with the substrate that provide clues about stability, postures, and movements.
These multiple sets allow for the study of species coexistence, the presence of young alongside adults, and the ecological structure of coastal environments that disappeared millions of years ago.
