A groundbreaking discovery has been made in Thailand: prehistoric animal footprints dating back 225 million years have been unearthed at the Tat Yai waterfalls. These well-preserved tracks, located between Phetchabun's Nam Nao district and Khon Kaen's Phu Pha Man district, offer a glimpse into the ancient world of dinosaurs.
The Department of Mineral Resources announced on its Facebook page that the footprints belonged to five different species, including theropods (bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs), sauropods (long-necked dinosaurs), and ornithopods (herbivores that included duck-billed hadrosaurs). The tracks are remarkably detailed, showing toes, claws, and soles.
Scientists plan to conduct further research to identify the specific dinosaur species that left these footprints. The tracks date back to the late Triassic period, when Earth's continents were merged into the supercontinent Pangaea. This discovery provides valuable insights into the dinosaur species that once roamed Southeast Asia during this time.
Thailand has recently seen a surge in fossil discoveries, including an extinct alligator and the 8-meter-long predator Siamraptor. The newly found footprints offer additional clues to the evolution of dinosaurs in Asia, particularly during the Late Triassic period.
Prior to this discovery, the earliest known dinosaur tracks in Thailand were from the Early Cretaceous period, about 100 million years younger. These tracks were found at the Phra Wihan Formation and the Phu Phan Formation.
Authorities are working to conduct more detailed exploration and documentation before the rainy season washes away the valuable markings. These footprints will contribute significantly to academic research in biology and geology.
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