A Major Discovery in Bolivia: One of the World’s Largest Collections of Dinosaur Tracks Revealed

Paleontologists working in central Bolivia have documented an extraordinary concentration of dinosaur trace fossils, identifying nearly 18,000 individual tracks across the Carreras Pampa region. This astonishing discovery establishes the site as one of the richest and most diverse repositories of preserved dinosaur footprints and swim trackways anywhere on Earth. The newly analyzed collection includes 16,600 footprints, 1,378 swim tracks, and numerous tail-drag impressions, all preserved along what was once an ancient coastal margin during the early Mesozoic era.

The majority of the tracks are attributed to theropods, agile bipedal dinosaurs that roamed South America during the Triassic and early Jurassic periods. Several of these impressions were remarkably small—measuring less than 4 inches (10 cm)—a rarity in the fossil record. These diminutive prints may represent early small-bodied species such as Coelophysis, or alternatively, juvenile individuals belonging to larger theropod lineages. Their preservation offers scientists a rare opportunity to better understand the behavior and ecology of smaller dinosaurs, whose remains typically do not fossilize as readily as their larger counterparts.

Larger footprints, some exceeding 12 inches (30 cm) in width, appear to have been made by mid-sized predatory dinosaurs such as Dilophosaurus or early forms of Allosaurus, based on track morphology and comparison with similar ichnological sites worldwide. The range of track sizes, depths, and stride patterns suggests that Carreras Pampa served as a dynamic environment hosting multiple species, varying age groups, and a wide array of locomotive behaviors.

Researchers meticulously analyzed more than 1,275 distinct trackways, uncovering rich behavioral data encoded in the fossilized surface. Among the most intriguing discoveries are alternating swim marks, which indicate that some dinosaurs moved through shallow water by pushing off the ground with their feet—similar to modern waterfowl. The trackways also document sudden directional changes, variable running speeds, and gait transitions, providing an unusually detailed snapshot of how dinosaurs interacted with a water-dominated habitat.

Although Carreras Pampa has been known to local communities and geologists for years, this marks the first comprehensive scientific study of the site. The analysis, conducted by paleontologists collaborating with Bolivian research institutions, was published in journals such as the Journal of South American Earth Sciences and Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. These studies emphasize the global importance of the find, particularly for understanding early dinosaur evolution and movement patterns along prehistoric shorelines.

Bolivia has long been recognized as one of the world’s most significant regions for dinosaur track discoveries. The country is home to the famous Cal Orck’o site—one of the largest and steepest track-bearing surfaces ever documented—featuring more than 5,000 tracks across 462 individual trackways spanning the Cretaceous period. With the addition of Carreras Pampa, Bolivia further solidifies its status as a crucial window into dinosaur behavior and ecology across the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

This massive new dataset not only enriches our understanding of dinosaur locomotion but also highlights Bolivia’s extraordinary paleontological heritage, offering new scientific opportunities and strengthening the region’s potential as a center for global research and geotourism.

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Sources (Reputable Scientific References)

• Journal of South American Earth Sciences – Studies on Bolivian tracksites
• Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology – Analyses of Triassic–Jurassic ichnology
• Bolivian Ministry of Cultures and Tourism – Reports on Carreras Pampa & Cal Orck’o
• University of Buenos Aires Paleontology Department – Regional dinosaur trace fossil research