13 December 2021
西班牙出土的恐龍足跡的最新研究及越來越多證據顯示出土恐龍與霸王龍的基因類似是敏捷的。霸王龍是體型龐大的，吃不敏捷小恐龍的食肉恐龍。
該發現登在12月9日自然科學的科技報道中。這一發現宣告恐龍化石足跡能證明恐龍運動快。
在美國德州和猶他州發現這種恐龍足跡運動速度是48千米每小時以上，而在西班牙發現的是約45千米每小時。
據腳印的長，推出腿高，及相同腳印間距離計算速度。
研究人員估計最新發現足跡的恐龍長是4－5米，高是1.5－2米。
科學家認為剛發現的恐龍可能是最快的恐龍，腳印一個接一個。
學者認為行為學很難研究恐龍，這些發現對於知識進化很重要。
通常科學家預測恐龍行為是透過動物運動用計算機建模。測試恐龍化石腳印來確認結果。
New research on dinosaur footprints unearthed in Spain adds to growing evidence that a dinosaur that was genetically similar to the Tyrannosaurus rex was extremely agile. The Tyrannosaurus rex was a very large meat-eating dinosaurs that was not agile.
The findings were published on December 9 in "Scientific Reports," which covers natural sciences. The findings announced the existence of sets of fossilized dinosaur footprints that prove the dinosaur could move quickly.
These footprints join other sets found in Utah and Texas. One of the sets there shows dinosaurs running at speeds over 48 kph. The Spanish footprints showed speeds of nearly 45 kph.
To figure out the running speed, scientists measured the length of the footprints and then considered the height of the place where the dinosaur's legs meet the body, or the hip. They also needed to consider the distance between one footprint and another on the same footprint.
The researchers estimated that the animal that created the most recent set of footprints was probably 1.5 to 2 meters tall and 4 to 5 meters long from mouth to tail.
Scientists think there may be faster dinosaurs, but these footprints have been easier to find. The footprints are known as tracks when there are one or more long sets.
"Behavior is something very difficult to study in dinosaurs," said lead writer Pablo Navarro-Lorbés of the University of La Rioja. "These kind of findings are very important, I think, for improving that kind of knowledge."
Scientists usually predict dinosaur behavior through computer modeling of the animals' movement. Physical examination of fossilized footprints confirmed the results.
