Scientists Find Dinosaur Tracks in Utah [Skid Marks]

Science - AP ^ | 2004-03-26

[Junior]

SALT LAKE CITY - Amid well preserved dinosaur footprints along what used to be the shores of a prehistoric lake in southern Utah, scientists have found the rare signs of a dinosaur's posterior.

Two impressions, made about 200 million years ago when the dinosaur sat down, were found March 17 in St. George, in southwestern Utah, as scientists were investigating the area around a planned dinosaur museum.

Despite the potential importance of the impressions, they may be destined for destruction.

To build a structure to protect nearby dinosaur tracks, backhoes would trample the delicate new find in a few weeks, said Andrew Milner, St. George's city paleontologist.

"We're pressed for time," he told The Salt Lake Tribune. "It's a little bit disappointing."

It appears the 20-foot-long dinosaur, likely related to dilophosaurus, sat down, stood up, walked a few paces and sat down again before walking away.

"We're working really hard to document this thing up and down, backward and forward," said James Kirkland, the state paleontologist.

Scientists hope to remove the impressions intact, but some prints may be destroyed in the process, Milner said. Researchers have photographed and traced over the area and will create a latex impression of it, Milner said.

Utah was a vast desert in the Jurassic era, when the impressions and other footprints were made, and the 100-mile-wide body of water was likely an oasis. Milner said the freshwater lake supported many species of fish, which could have served as dinosaur food.

Martin Lockley, a geologist at the University of Colorado at Denver, saw the impressions last week and called them a significant find.

"Traces of squatting dinosaurs are very rare," Lockley said. Information gleaned from these traces could offer new insights into dinosaur behavior.

In August, St. George will open a $1.2 million museum at the site of the tracks, where more dinosaur footprints will be uncovered in a climate-controlled environment, said Gary Sanders, the city's community arts and exhibitions administrator.

Sheldon Johnson discovered the dinosaur tracks on his farm in 2000 and later donated the site to the city.

[Junior]

"Seventh Planet" ping.

[job]

Time for someone to post a funny cartoon of a dinosaur.

[ASA Vet]

[Aracelis]

LOL

See...? In 70 or 80 million years, the impressions your butt made on a beach might be worth something too.

[Junior]

I'm picturing a dinosaur doing the "butt scoot" much like my pair of demonic cats occasionally engage in.

[Junior]

I guess it beats the ol' Xerox...

[PatrickHenry]

A serious candidate for the Barney Frank achievement award.

[ASA Vet]

I don't even want to think about the impression some folks would leave.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Fossil ping.

[Junior]

Barney ... dinosaur ... hee hee hee...

[tractorman]

Are you sure Ted Kennedy the captain of the USS Oldsmoblie hasn’t been in Utah lately?

[SGCOS]

[ChevyZ28]

No doubt, fossilized dino dung is near by.

[lowbridge]

Scientists Find Dinosaur Tracks in Utah [Skid Marks]

Well, one things for sure. There wasnt a lawyer in his path.

[HenryLeeII]

Scientists Find Dinosaur Tracks in Utah

The big question is, how fresh are they! ;>)

[Aracelis]

I certainly hope future paleontologists don't find those two old fossils...they might get an entirely incorrect idea of our civilization.

[Old Professer]

My Lab/Springer/Heeler mix leaves belly prints after every rain; maybe I should preserve them so they won't be lost to history. Seriously, the Dinosaur was probably recently adopted and hadn't learned how to properly sit-up and beg.

[VadeRetro]

When some people sit down, it makes a lasting impression. Rep. Nadler, D-NY has made some marks that will be around for some time.

[PatrickHenry]

Uh ... another thread on this was posted a few minutes before this one: HERE.