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2mo ago

200-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Footprints Discovered at Australian High School

A boulder in the foyer of Biloela State High School was found to contain 66 fossilized tracks from 47 dinosaurs, offering a rare glimpse into Australia's prehistoric past.

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An undated handout photo released by the University of Queensland shows an image of the boulder using 3D imaging and light filters showing the dinosaur footprints
This undated handout photo released by the University of Queensland shows palaeontologist Anthony Romilio inspecting a boulder outside the school which also had a dinosaur footprint

Overview

  • The fossilized footprints, dating back to the Early Jurassic period, were discovered in a boulder displayed at Biloela State High School in Queensland for over 20 years.
  • Paleontologists identified 66 three-toed tracks belonging to the ichnospecies Anomoepus scambus, a small, plant-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs.
  • The rock, gifted to the school by a geologist in 2002, was originally unearthed from the nearby Callide Basin during coal mining operations.
  • This discovery marks one of the highest concentrations of dinosaur footprints ever documented in Australia, providing key insights into dinosaur behavior and movement.
  • Additional fossilized tracks were found on a larger boulder used as a car park marker at the nearby Callide Mine, highlighting the region's rich prehistoric significance.