SUPERB THEROPOD FOOTPRINTS. ...

Description

SUPERB THEROPOD FOOTPRINTS
Species unknown
Lower Jurassic
St George, Utah, USA
The locality of St George in Utah is regarded to as one of the most significant fossil sites in the entire world for early Jurassic dinosaur tracks. The area once boasted a large lake and a thriving population of prehistoric creatures; as such the incredible abundance of tracks, skin impressions and fossilized remains of fish, crocodilians, dinosaurs and flora constitute an almost unparalleled window through time to a thriving prehistoric ecosystem. The dinosaurs that occupied this area seem mostly to have been Theropods, as is evidenced by the tracks they left; "theropoda" means "beast feet" and the group is distinguished by their three-toed pedal extremities, as well as by having a furcula (wish-bone), air-filled bones and in some cases, even feathers, all of which links them closely to the evolution of today's birds.
Large deep well-defined impressions such as these are extremely rare, especially when there are 2 such prints on the same matrix. The two impressions on this large slab of red sandstone are from a good-sized creature, or pair of creatures, and each measure approximately 12 inches in length. The prints are deep, with good outline and presenting a fine overall impression of the dinosaurs' feet; the slab itself measures 45¼ inches wide.

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