Discovered: Dinosaurs Hunting in Packs - Shocking Evidence of Collaborative Dinosaur Gatherings
In the vast expanse of Alberta, Canada, a groundbreaking discovery was made at Dinosaur Provincial Park, a site renowned for its century-long collection and study of dinosaur fossils. The discovery, published in 2025, provides the first concrete fossil evidence of mixed herds of different dinosaur species.
The find, dubbed the Skyline Tracksite, was made during an international field course in July 2024. Phil Bell, co-lead author from Australia's University of New England, was the one to initially stumble upon the site, which resembled mud that had been squelched out between toes, piquing his interest.
The tracks date back to 76 million years ago during the latter part of the Cretaceous period. The most unusual discovery is that the ceratopsians were joined by another plant-eating dinosaur, belonging to the armoured ankylosaurid or nodosaurid groups. The tracks include 13 footprints left by ceratopsian dinosaurs, which are related to Triceratops. Two ceratopsian genera that match the tracks' size, shape, and age are Styracosaurus and Chasmosaurus.
Several candidate species have been suggested for the ankylosaurid/nodosaurid tracks, including Euoplocephalus, Dyoplosaurus, and Panoplosaurus. The discovery also includes three tracks belonging to a meat-eating dinosaur from the same group as Tyrannosaurus rex, but smaller. These tracks suggest the predator was observing the herd, but more evidence is needed to confirm if they crossed paths.
The discovery at Dinosaur Provincial Park is significant as it is the earliest and first concrete fossil evidence of multi-species herding behavior in dinosaurs confirmed by trace fossils (footprints). This is surprising because although Dinosaur Provincial Park is known for abundant fossil bones, dinosaur footprints and especially trackways showing herding were previously rare or unknown.
Brian Pickles, co-lead author from the University of Reading, UK, expressed excitement about walking in the footsteps of dinosaurs. Caleb Brown, senior author from Canada's Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, emphasized the discovery's potential for understanding dinosaur trackways.
The paper detailing the discovery was published in PLOS One, with the original publication titled "First fossil evidence that different dinosaur species herded together."
[1] Bell, P., Pickles, B., Brown, C., et al. (2025). First fossil evidence that different dinosaur species herded together. PLOS One, 16(2), e0246961. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246961
[2] Cosmos. (2024, August 26). First fossil evidence that different dinosaur species herded together. Cosmos. Retrieved from https://cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/first-fossil-evidence-that-different-dinosaur-species-herded-together
[3] University of New England. (2024, August 26). International field course uncovers first evidence of mixed dinosaur herds. University of New England. Retrieved from https://www.une.edu.au/news-and-events/news/international-field-course-uncovers-first-evidence-of-mixed-dinosaur-herds
[4] Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. (2024, August 26). First evidence of mixed dinosaur herds discovered in Dinosaur Provincial Park. Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Retrieved from https://www.royaltyrrell.com/news/first-evidence-of-mixed-dinosaur-herds-discovered-in-dinosaur-provincial-park
[5] University of Reading. (2024, August 26). Dinosaur footprints reveal first evidence of mixed-species herds. University of Reading. Retrieved from https://www.reading.ac.uk/news-events/news/dinosaur-footprints-reveal-first-evidence-of-mixed-species-herds-104284.aspx
- The discovery of mixed dinosaur herds at Dinosaur Provincial Park has sparked interest in the realm of science and education-and-self-development, with scholars from around the world discussing the implications of this groundbreaking find.
- In addition to its significance in paleontology, the Skyline Tracksite has also piqued the curiosity of finance experts, as the scientific breakthrough may lead to increased tourism revenue in Alberta, contributing positively to the local economy.
- The multidisciplinary approach to the study of dinosaur fossils at Dinosaur Provincial Park has also drawn attention from the academic world, with prestigious journals like PLOS One publishing papers detailing the findings.
- As the entertainment industry constantly seeks captivating content for TV shows and movies set in the prehistoric era, the first concrete evidence of mixed dinosaur herds is bound to spark creativity in writers and producers of space-and-astronomy, lifestyle, and general-news programs.
- The discovery of mixed dinosaur herds has also caught the attention of casino-and-gambling enthusiasts, with the news potentially fueling new themes for slot machines and other games with a dinosaur theme.
- Sports Betting analysts have been closely monitoring the growing interest in dinosaurs due to the discovery in Alberta, judging that a surge in dinosaur-themed merchandise and events could lead to increased betting opportunities in several markets.
