Dinosaur tracks unveiled in Texas by extreme drought conditions
Limestone deposits helped unveil the area’s prehistoric past but rain has since hidden the finds again.
Dinosaur tracks uncovered in Texas amid drought
Amid a drought, the Dinosaur Valley State Park has discovered dinosaur footprints that have been historically covered by water and sediment. They date back more than 113 million years ago.
GLEN ROSE, Texas – Dinosaur tracks that are believed to be over 113 million years old were recently discovered in Texas, turning the once quiet Dinosaur Valley State Park into the center of every paleontologist’s dream.
Drought conditions that ranged from extreme to exceptional along the Paluxy River aided in the discovery in the small town outside of Fort Worth, Texas.
"Due to the excessive drought conditions this past summer, the river dried up completely in most locations, allowing for more tracks to be uncovered here in the park," the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. "Under normal river conditions, these newer tracks are underwater and are commonly filled in with sediment, making them buried and not as visible."
Nearly the entire Lone Star State was dealing with drought conditions before recent heavy rains.
(FOX Weather)
The agency said the drought helped to expose limestone at the bottom of the river, which contained the tracks believed to be from an Acrocanthosaurus.
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The Acrocanthosaurus was a carnivore and stood about 15 feet tall. The predator is thought to have weighed about 7 tons.
The sighting isn’t the first for the park, officials said they have previously discovered tracks belonging to other Acrocanthosauruses as well as the much larger Sauroposeidon.
![Dinosaur tracks found in Texas]()
Image 1 of 5Deino Track Site being cleaned for a dinosaur track mapping project. (Dinosaur Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife)
![Dinosaur tracks found in Texas]()
Image 2 of 5Deino Track Site being cleaned for a dinosaur track mapping project. (Dinosaur Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife)
![Dinosaur tracks found in Texas]()
Image 3 of 5Deino Track Site being cleaned for a dinosaur track mapping project. (Dinosaur Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife)
![Dinosaur tracks found in Texas]()
Image 4 of 5Deino Track Site being cleaned for a dinosaur track mapping project. (Dinosaur Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife)
![Dinosaur tracks found in Texas]()
Image 5 of 5Deino Track Site being cleaned for a dinosaur track mapping project. (Dinosaur Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife)
The Sauroposeidon was a herbivore and is thought to have been 60 feet tall and weighed about 44 tons.
The United States Geological Survey said fossils from both species have been found in Texas, Oklahoma and other locations around the Great Plains because it was one of the regions during the Mesozoic era that wasn’t underwater.
Texas drought revealing ancient dinosaur tracks
Drought conditions have revealed 113 million-year-old dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Jeff Davis, Park Superintendent at Dinosaur Valley State Park talks more about it.
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Visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the new discovery might be out of luck, thanks to heavy rainfall over the past week in North Texas.
More than a foot a rain fell on parts of North Texas.
(FOX Weather)
Areas around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex reported seeing more than 9 inches of rain since Sunday, which caused flooding of some streams and rivers.
The water level of the Paluxy River rose enough to bury the recently discovered tracks, but park officials said the rains could help protect the historical finds from weathering.
"Tracks being buried under layers of sediment do help protect them," a park spokesperson said. "While these newer dinosaur tracks were visible for a brief amount of time, it brought about the wonder and excitement about finding new dinosaur tracks at the park."