Tiny Fossil Tracks Found in South Korea Reveal New Insights into Dinosaurs’ Use of Wings
A recent discovery of fossil tracks in South Korea has provided researchers with valuable insights into how dinosaurs may have used their wings. The findings suggest that the origin of flight in dinosaurs may not have been a simple binary distinction between being able to fly or not, but rather a spectrum of aerial movements.
The tracks belong to a small, feathered dinosaur named Dromaeosauriformipes rarus, roughly the size of a modern sparrow. Scientists from the University of Maryland, USA, were intrigued by the discovery as the tracks indicated that the dinosaur had unusually long strides for its small size.
Palaeontologist Thomas Holtz, part of the research team, described the tracks as a puzzle due to the significant distance between them despite the dinosaur’s tiny footprints. The study, published in the journal PNAS, revealed that the dinosaur likely used a unique method of movement that involved flapping its feathered arms to generate lift, allowing for bursts of flight.
This form of movement, termed “flap running”, was a transitional stage between running and fully powered flight. While the dinosaur could not achieve sustained flight, the researchers believe it had enough force to lift off the ground intermittently. Michael Pittman, another author of the study, highlighted the significance of this discovery in understanding the evolution of flight in dinosaurs.
The researchers initially considered alternative explanations for the peculiar footprints, such as the dinosaur having long, stilt-like legs or moving at exceptionally high speeds. However, calculations based on the dinosaur’s hip height suggested that achieving the observed stride length would require speeds exceeding those of any living running animal.
The study proposed that the dinosaur elongated its stride length by flapping its arms, leaving the unique footprints characteristic of taking off or landing. Dr Holtz compared this motion to that of a plane bouncing on a runway before coming to a stop, indicating a gradual transition in the dinosaur’s flight capabilities.
The implications of this research extend beyond South Korea, prompting scientists to explore similar dinosaur trackways in other regions like Bolivia, Madagascar, and Australia. By analysing additional trackways, researchers hope to uncover further details about the diverse ways in which pre-avian dinosaurs utilised their wings before the evolution of full flight.
This groundbreaking study offers a compelling glimpse into the complex behaviours and adaptations of dinosaurs, shedding new light on their remarkable evolution and flight capabilities.