Science News · Science

First adult T. rex footprints suggest a walking speed of 1.6 meters per second

A series of four ancient footprints, likely made by an adult Tyrannosaurus rex, offers new insights into the dinosaur's locomotion.

The 7-meter-long trackway, discovered in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation, is the first set of prints attributed to an adult T. rex. Measurements suggest the dinosaur was walking at approximately 1.6 meters per second, comparable to a human's brisk walk.

While individual T. rex footprints and trackways from juveniles or other species exist, this adult trackway provides more information about how the animal moved. The prints were discovered in 2025 by paleontologist Kent Hups.

The tracks, measuring 80 centimeters across, exhibit slender toe impressions. Fossil evidence from the area and the track characteristics strongly suggest they were made by a T. rex around 66.5 million years ago, though the possibility of an unknown species cannot be entirely ruled out.

Scientists calculated the speed using stride length and body size. However, the preservation of the footprints is not ideal, making speed estimations inherently tricky. The T. rex could have been moving slightly faster or slower than estimated.

Further details, such as how the foot landed or how its weight was supported, could not be determined due to the condition of the tracks. Researchers are hopeful that more footprints may be uncovered as erosion continues to expose the hillside.

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