Imagine living in a region where the rocks beneath you were formed when your land was nearer to the poles. You might think that finding dinosaur fossils in such a location is improbable, treating the idea of polar dinosaurs as mere fiction inspired by films like Jurassic World.

Then, someone with keen observation and patience discovers something unexpected: dinosaur footprints! This isn’t a tale fabricated for entertainment; it’s a true story worth sharing.

Not long ago, I discussed the Earth's evolution over the last 1.8 billion years. A video illustrates the shifting positions of continents relative to the equator throughout this extensive period.

Given the sheer scale of time and distance, it can be challenging to grasp the broader implications of these changes. Even experts in biology, paleontology, and geology sometimes find it difficult to visualize the complete scenario.

However, a closer inspection reveals something significant: continents that are now near the poles were once positioned closer to the equator, while regions currently near the equator were once much nearer to the poles.

But this is just the beginning.

A remarkable discovery on Australia’s southern coast is shedding new light on dinosaurs that once inhabited polar regions. A team of paleontologists has uncovered a series of dinosaur tracks in the Wonthaggi Formation, located near Melbourne. These tracks, preserved in sedimentary rock layers, provide a rare glimpse into the lives of large theropod dinosaurs and their herbivorous contemporaries from the Early Cretaceous, approximately 120 to 128 million years ago.

This find is particularly thrilling as it offers the best evidence to date of sizable carnivorous dinosaurs thriving in polar habitats, environments typically regarded as inhospitable to life, especially for larger predators.

Led by Dr. Anthony Martin and published in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, the study identifies a total of 24 tracks—18 from theropods and four from ornithopods. Theropods, like Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor, were bipedal carnivores, while ornithopods included herbivorous dinosaurs such as Iguanodon and Parasaurolophus.

While previous discoveries in the area yielded scattered dinosaur bones, often moved by water post-mortem, these newly found tracks provide direct evidence that these creatures were alive and moving in this region.

In essence, these dinosaurs were not washed in from more temperate zones after death.

The Wonthaggi Formation is known for its rich fossil deposits, though earlier finds mostly consisted of disarticulated bones. This narrative changed when Melissa Lowery, a volunteer fossil enthusiast, discovered the tracks while exploring coastal outcrops during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her keen observations led to the identification of 24 tridactyl (three-toed) dinosaur tracks preserved in marine-platform exposures of overbank and floodplain sediments.

Following the discovery, the research team meticulously documented the tracks using digital imaging, photogrammetry, and physical molding, allowing for detailed analysis and comparisons with known dinosaur footprints from similar time frames. Each track was carefully recorded, noting length, width, and unique features like claw imprints or sediment deformations.

Fossils, especially tracks, are remarkable in that they narrate stories about animal behavior and interactions with their environment. And what do these particular tracks reveal?

They tell us about life near the South Pole during the Early Cretaceous. The largest theropod track, measuring 18.5 inches long, indicates a predator that could have stood over six feet tall at the hip, comparable to modern large mammals like elephants.

So, what were these theropods up to? Likely hunting smaller dinosaurs and other prey, such as fish and turtles, in a landscape that experienced seasonal freezing.

This region was part of Gondwana, the supercontinent that included both Australia and Antarctica. During the Cretaceous, the polar climate underwent long periods of darkness and freezing temperatures, yet it also experienced relatively warm summers, fostering thriving ecosystems.

The tracks were likely formed as dinosaurs walked through moist sand or mud following spring thaws, when the area's rivers and floodplains were replenished with meltwater.

The discovery of ornithopod tracks, which were the first identified in this formation, adds another dimension to our understanding. These small, herbivorous dinosaurs likely served as prey for larger theropods, but their tracks suggest they may have nested and raised their young in the area during the brief polar summers. The ornithopod tracks vary in size from four to seven inches, indicating a mix of juveniles and adults.

Isn’t it fascinating how "simple" tracks can provide such deep insights into the lives and reproductive behaviors of these ancient creatures?

One of the most intriguing aspects of this discovery is how it challenges previous beliefs that the region was too harsh for large predators to reside year-round. In contrast, the tracks indicate that not only did dinosaurs inhabit this area, but they thrived alongside various species, painting a picture of a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem.

This finding expands our understanding of how dinosaurs adapted to extreme environments, an area where knowledge was previously lacking.

Polar regions, often thought unsuitable for dinosaurs due to months of darkness and frigid temperatures, were likely home to these large theropods and ornithopods, indicating their ability not just to survive but potentially to flourish in such climates.

“This is the best evidence yet that these former polar environments supported large carnivores,” stated Dr. Anthony Martin. The theropods, equipped with sharp claws and formidable sizes, likely dominated the landscape, while the smaller ornithopods navigated the floodplains in search of food.

Another vital takeaway from this research highlights the significance of dedicated scientists and fossil hunters in making such discoveries. For instance, Melissa Lowery's keen eye allowed her to find many of the tracks during the pandemic, illustrating that scientific progress often relies on patience, observance, and a bit of fortune.

Her contributions have enriched our understanding of polar dinosaurs, and forthcoming studies could unveil even more about their lifestyles.

Ultimately, these tracks provide a unique glimpse into a world that is both familiar and alien—dinosaurs traversing what is now Australia’s southern coastline, leaving behind footprints that narrate the story of life in one of Earth's most extreme environments. After all, these landscapes were once significantly closer to the poles.

Ah, the wonders of our ever-changing Earth!

Published in Fossils et al. Follow for more insights into Paleontology and Evolution.