Discover the most mysterious, ancient and mysterious

Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, USA, said the two thin footprints printed on a sandy river bank more than 100 million years ago are traces of the world's oldest bird living in the area today. Dinosaur Cove in Australia.

Footprints are found in dinosaur fossil-rich cliffs on the southern coast of Victoria, Australia. The researchers think that this trace is what remains of a prehistoric bird that lived during the Early Cretaceous period.

At that time, the world was warmer and the continents were very different from today. The Dinosaur Cove area is located in a low-lying plain of a large valley - formed when the supercontinent Gondwana begins to break, separating Australia from the South Pole.

The image depicts the bird landing, setting foot on the wet sand of a river bank.(Photo: Anthony Martin)

Anthony Martin, a paleontologist at Emory University in Atlanta, USA, said footprints show their owners are flying creatures.

Bird footprints are found very close to another footprint of large carnivorous dinosaurs but not birds. This may be the footprint of the coelurosaurs - a dinosaur group that has a close relationship with birds including beasts like Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex).

The traces of the back toe indicate that this is the imprint of the landing trip. All three ancient footprints were "locked" in sandstone, in a small area, about 650cm ² , helping scientists learn more about the creatures that live in Dinosaur Cove during the Early Cretaceous period.

"Footprints are evidence that this flying bird is quite large, living with dinosaurs in the lowland plains about 105 million years ago," Martin said.

Photo: georgialifetraces.com

Scientists predict, these footprints appear when the river bank is covered by moist sand, possibly after floodwaters recede in spring and summer. Mr Martin said it is unclear whether the ancient birds lived in the area during the winter or they migrated here in the spring and summer.

The birds leaving the trail in Dinosaur Cove also have a back toe. Characteristics are found on some bird feet today and even tyrannical dinosaurs also have a degenerate hind toe. Studying the change in the way the toes of birds and dinosaurs (relatives with birds) can provide researchers with insight into the development of these species.

"Some longer dinosaurs with long toes (instead of shorter) have created a great adaptation to help them land on trees," Martin explained. "Other footprints and fossils have provided clues about how dinosaurs (not birds) and birds evolved, began to colonize other habitats."

The discovery was published in the Palaeontology magazine this month.