World's fastest-running medium-sized theropod dinosaur tracks found in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Photo: Screen from website)
Scientists in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have identified the world's fastest-running medium-sized theropod dinosaur tracks, dating back to the Cretaceous period, according to a report by China News Service on Saturday night.
Li Yang, a Phd with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced the discovery Saturday at a conference in the Otog Dinosaur Trace National Nature Reserve in the city of Ordos.
The reserve is China's only national-level protected area dedicated to dinosaur footprints. Since the beginning of 2025, a research team has confirmed the discovery of two new theropod dinosaur trackways in the reserve after field surveys and laboratory studies.
Li said that at Site No. 9 in the reserve, researchers documented a trackway of five consecutive footprints left by a medium-sized theropod, stretching 10.6 meters with a stride length of 5.3 meters.
Experts believe it "represents the fastest-running medium-sized theropod tracks from the Cretaceous period ever found," according to the report.
"The heel marks of the footprints are very shallow or not preserved, while the impressions of the distal toes are deeper, indicating the dinosaur was running rapidly," Li said. He added that the dinosaur was moving at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour.
"This is a stunning discovery," Li said. "Compared with theropod trackways worldwide, this speed sets a new record for the fastest known theropod from the Cretaceous period."
In addition, paleontologist Zhang Lifu said researchers documented an 81-meter trackway — the longest theropod trackway ever discovered in China, according to the report.
Qi Muren, director of the reserve, said authorities will "continue strengthening conservation efforts to preserve the fossil sites and allow the public to experience the wonders of the dinosaur era."
