A new solution to an old riddle: elongate dinosaur tracks explained as deep penetration of the foot, not plantigrade locomotion

The dinosaur track record features numerous examples of trackways with elongated metatarsal marks. Such ‘elongate tracks’ are often highly variable and characterized by indistinct outlines abbreviated or missing digit impressions. Elongate tracks well-known from the Paluxy River bed Texas, where some have been interpreted as ‘man creationists due to their superficially human-like appearance. horizontal orientation marks led now widely accepted idea a facultative plantigrade, ‘flat-footed’, mode locomotion in variety dinosaurian trackmakers small large. This hypothesis, however, is at odds observation that elongate do not indicate reduced speeds increased pace angulation values, but instead correlated low anatomical fidelity. We here interpret deep penetrations foot soft sediment. Sediment may collapse above parts descending foot, leaving shallow surface preserves mark. length mark determined multiple factors necessarily metatarsus. Other types posterior footprints, such drag slip marks, reviewed.