The fastest-running theropod trackway in the Cretaceous from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China (IMAGE)
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This paper elucidates the ecological context of two theropod dinosaurs of differing body sizes inhabiting the lakeshore region of Otog Banner, Inner Mongolia. The larger theropod exhibited a walking gait characterized by relatively short stride lengths, whereas the medium-sized theropod demonstrated a digitigrade posture indicative of rapid locomotion, achieving speeds up to 45 km/h. This represents the highest recorded speed among theropod dinosaur trackways from the Cretaceous period worldwide to date. Furthermore, these findings provide critical empirical evidence for advancing the understanding of the maximal locomotive capabilities of medium-sized theropods.The results were published as the cover paper in the 11th issue of Science China: Earth Sciences for 2025.
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