After zeroing on the giant footprints which date back to some 125 million years ago, researchers have finally been able to decipher it and discovered that some of the dinosaurs were actually able to swim.
Scientists were trying to derive inputs from the 15m track which was found in Cameros Basin in Spain, which was once a vast lake. After much research, they arrived at the conclusion that the large, bi-pedal beast swam in about 3m deep water.
Dr Loic Costeur, a palaeontologist at the University of Nantes, France said
We came across them about three or four years ago. The Cameros Basin has thousands of walking footprints from diverse dinosaur fauna, but when we saw these it was obvious straightaway that this was a swimming dinosaur.
Preserved in sandstone, the under-water track comprises 12 prints, each with 2-3 scratch marks. Dr Costeur explained that the peculiarity in the shape and morphology of the footprints made them convinced that it was not walking footprints. And the ripple marks around the footprint also revealed that the creature was swimming against the current.
Scientists also discovered the style of its swimming, which they described as a pelvic paddle swimming motion.
This discovery would put an end to the question whether dinosaurs were able to swim or not.