- Scientists have documented the largest concentration of dinosaur footprints ever found, with approximately 18,000 tracks preserved at the Carreras Pampa site in Bolivia's Torotoro National Park.
- The tracks, dating to about 70 million years ago, were made along a freshwater lake shoreline and include 16,600 theropod (carnivorous dinosaur) footprints and 1,378 rare "swim tracks" from floating dinosaurs.
- Exceptional preservation resulted from the muddy shoreline's ideal consistency and a rapid covering of sediment, which sealed the tracks like a time capsule and captured detailed behaviors like running, turning and tail-dragging.
- The site provides a unique snapshot of dinosaur demographics and behavior, revealing a diverse population from juveniles to mid-sized predators and suggesting possible social movement along parallel paths.
- This discovery, classified as an extraordinarily preserved "ichnologic conservation Lagerstätte," surpasses Bolivia's previous record-holder and offers invaluable insights into dinosaur life that skeletal fossils alone cannot provide.
In a discovery that rewrites the paleontological record, scientists have officially documented the largest single concentration of dinosaur footprints ever found on Earth.
Located within the rugged expanse of Torotoro National Park in central Bolivia, the Carreras Pampa tracksite preserves a staggering 18,000 individual tracks along what was once a bustling ancient coastline. The find, detailed in a new study published Dec. 3, 2025 in the journal PLOS One, was led by researchers who spent years meticulously cataloging the impressions, which capture an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur behavior in the final chapter of their reign.
Researchers counted 16,600 distinct footprints from bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods, alongside 1,378 specialized "swim tracks." These are not random scatterings but organized paths, with many tracks running parallel, suggesting this muddy shoreline served as a major thoroughfare. The orientation of the tracks and preserved ripple marks in the rock confirm this was an active interface between land and a freshwater lake approximately 70 million years ago, at the tail end of the Cretaceous period.
The exceptional preservation is a story of perfect geological timing. The shoreline mud was rich in calcium carbonate, creating a consistency akin to firm plaster. When a dinosaur stepped on it, the impression was deep and clear.
Critically, this layer was then quickly covered by another layer of sediment, sealing the tracks before they could erode or be overwritten by later traffic. This series of events transformed a busy lake margin into a time capsule, freezing moments of daily life from an era 66 million years before humans walked the Earth.
The tracks reveal a diverse community. Footprint lengths range from less than four inches to over 12 inches, indicating a population that included juveniles, small species and mid-sized predators. The very smallest tracks are a particular rarity in the fossil record; they could belong to species like Coelophysis or simply be the footprints of young dinosaurs.
The largest prints likely belong to predators similar to Dilophosaurus or Allosaurus. While not the absolute giants like Tyrannosaurus rex, these were formidable animals, some standing as tall as an adult human.
A rare gallery of dinosaur behavior
Researchers identified evidence of running, sharp turns and even tail-dragging, where the tip of a dinosaur's tail left a groove in the mud. Most significant are the swim tracks. These appear as straight or comma-shaped grooves, created when a floating theropod would occasionally kick its toe down to the lakebed to propel itself forward. Unlike other global sites with isolated swim scratches, Carreras Pampa preserves entire alternating sequences of left and right swim tracks, mapping entire aquatic journeys.
Dinosaur footprints are fossilized impressions left in sediment by dinosaurs, often revealing details about their size, gait and even skin texture, said BrightU.AI's Enoch. These trace fossils, known as ichnites, provide crucial evidence of dinosaur behavior and ecosystems that body fossils alone cannot.
This discovery cements Bolivia's status as a global epicenter for dinosaur tracks. The previous record-holder for track count was also in Bolivia: the famed Cal Orck'o site, a dramatic vertical wall in an active quarry. Carreras Pampa, by contrast, is a vast horizontal expanse covering over 80,000 square feet. The two sites together demonstrate that the region, part of a vast ancient basin, was a densely populated dinosaur habitat for millions of years, offering uniquely ideal conditions for track preservation.
To scientists, Carreras Pampa is more than a collection of footprints; it is classified as an "ichnologic conservation Lagerstätte." This technical term describes a site of extraordinary fossil concentration and preservation. It is a library where the books are not bones, but behaviors. Each trackway is a data point on locomotion, social interaction and ecosystem use, providing insights that skeletal fossils alone cannot offer.
This Bolivian megafind joins a growing list of significant trackway discoveries that are reshaping our understanding of the Mesozoic world. From the 3,300 tracks documenting a dinosaur stampede in Queensland, Australia, to the recent uncovering of Acrocanthosaurus tracks in Texas by floodwaters, these sites are visceral connections to the past. They remind us that the fossil record is not just about death and burial, but about life and movement.
The challenge of interpretation and stewardship
Interpreting such a site requires immense care. Researchers used simple tools like brooms and yarn—laying strings to connect individual footprints into coherent trackways—combined with advanced 3D imaging and drone mapping. The primary goal is precise documentation, as these natural wonders face constant threats from erosion and, potentially, unregulated tourism. The research team's work is the first step toward a long-term conservation plan.
The mud of an ancient Bolivian lakeshore, once churned by the feet of countless dinosaurs, has delivered a message across an abyss of time. The Carreras Pampa tracksite is more than a record-breaking number of impressions; it is a panoramic window into a lost world, capturing the mundane and dramatic moments of life in the Age of Dinosaurs with unparalleled clarity. It confirms that sometimes, the most eloquent fossils are not bones, but the fleeting steps preserved against all odds, now speaking volumes about the creatures that made them.
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