Overview
- PLOS One researchers report more than 16,600 mostly three-toed theropod prints across nine mapped areas at Carreras Pampa in Bolivia.
- About 1,378 traces are interpreted as made while swimming, alongside tail-drag marks, abrupt turns, walking sequences and running gaits.
- The mapped fossil surface exceeds 7,400 square meters and preserves long continuous trackways that reveal detailed movement patterns.
- The authors say the site establishes new global records for individual footprints, continuous tracks, tail traces and swim traces.
- Media accounts differ on leadership attribution, naming Raúl Esperante in one report and Jeremy McLarty in another, as the team notes more tracks likely remain to be documented and protected.