A Groundbreaking Find in the Rockies

In a jaw-dropping discovery, scientists have unveiled the very first footprints of armoured dinosaurs with clubbed tails, dating back a staggering 100 million years! These ancient tracks were uncovered in two stunning locations across the Canadian Rockies: Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia and northwest Alberta.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Ankylosaurs

These incredible fossilized tracks provide tantalizing clues about a group of dinosaurs known as ankylosaurs, formidable creatures that roamed the Earth during the mid-Cretaceous period. With their hefty, tank-like physiques shielded by bony armour, ankylosaurs are divided into two main groups: the flexible-tailed nodosaurids and the fearsome ankylosaurids, distinguished by their heavy, sledgehammer-like tail clubs.

While four-toed ankylosaur tracks have previously been documented in North America, these three-toed prints are the very first confirmed evidence of ankylosaurids leaving their mark—a thrilling addition to the fossil record!

Introducing Ruopodosaurus clava!

The newly identified dinosaur has been christened Ruopodosaurus clava, a name that translates to "the tumbled-down lizard with a club/mace," perfectly reflecting its distinctive tail weapon and the rugged terrain of its discovery.

Behind the Discovery: A Team of Experts

Dr. Victoria Arbour, a palaeontologist at the Royal BC Museum and ankylosaur expert, co-led the investigative team alongside specialists from the Tumbler Ridge Museum and the local UNESCO Global Geopark. Their groundbreaking findings are detailed in the latest issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Dr. Arbour revealed, "While we don’t know exactly what Ruopodosaurus looked like, we estimate it would have been about 5-6 meters long with spikes and armor, showcasing a stiff tail or a full tail club. Identifying new ankylosaurs in British Columbia is a thrilling breakthrough!"

The Story Behind the Tracks

The elusive three-toed tracks were first noted by Dr. Charles Helm of the Tumbler Ridge Museum years ago. In 2023, Dr. Helm enlisted Dr. Arbour's expertise for further investigation, joined by geoscientist Roy Rule, Eamon Drysdale, and the late Martin Lockley, a renowned dinosaur track expert from the University of Colorado.

A Unique Snapshot of History

Spanning from roughly 100 to 94 million years ago, the footprints raise intriguing questions as no ankylosaurid bones from this era have ever been found in North America—prompting speculation that they may have vanished during this time. Yet, these incredible tracks confirm that tail-clubbed ankylosaurs thrived alongside their nodosaurid relatives!

A Rich Fossil Legacy Unveiled

Dr. Helm proudly stated, "Ever since two young boys discovered an ankylosaur trackway near Tumbler Ridge in 2000, the area has become synonymous with these dinosaurs. It's thrilling to confirm two types of ankylosaurs once roamed this region, with Ruopodosaurus being unique to Canada!"

Dr. Arbour emphasizes, "This research highlights the remarkable importance of the Peace Region of northeastern BC in piecing together the puzzle of dinosaur evolution in North America—there’s still so much left to uncover!"