Animal tracks dating back about 3 million years have been discovered in South Africa for the first time.

A research team at the African Center for Coastal Paleoecology at Nelson Mandela University has found more than 350 vertebrate tracks on sandy surfaces along the coast, which have fossilized over time. The oldest trace found is about 400,000 years old. This was reported on December 2 by Science X magazine.

According to the publication, South Africa is known for its rich paleontological heritage, which tells us about what the world looked like in ancient times.

It was assumed that there might be older footprints hidden further inland. It is known that at a distance of up to 30 km from the coast there are cemented dunes about 3 million years old, known as the Wangkou formation. However, the search for fossils was difficult because there were few suitable rock outcrops, and those found were often destroyed and calcified. This complicated the task of the specialists.

In addition, most of the Wangkou Formation is located on private land, which required permits for access. Against the background of this problem, the researchers focused on areas with well-preserved original rock layers. A member of the Given Gang team found animal tracks in one of the sites inland. This was the impetus for further searches, and while exploring coastal footprints in the private Grootbos Nature Reserve, scientists accidentally stumbled upon even more footprints.

At the same time, it is claimed that no traces of vertebrates had previously been recorded in the Wangkou formation. According to research, the area is rich in fossils, and footprints are common on it. However, these are the first recorded Pliocene vertebrate footprints found in South Africa.

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On November 30, Science Daily magazine reported the discovery of a dinosaur mummy, the soft tissues of which were preserved in the form of a thin clay mask — an example of the so-called clay templating. For the first time, researchers from the University of Chicago were able to see a complete profile from disparate fragments. It was clarified that there was a continuous ridge along the dinosaur's back, passing over the hips into a series of tail spikes, each of which was located above the vertebra.

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