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One of the biggest dinosaur footprints ever has been discovered in Bolivia, measuring a huge 1.2 metres across.
Scientists believe it belonged to an Abelisaurus, a powerful predatory carnivore, and is around 80 million years old. They think this particular dinosaur would have been at least 15 metres long.
Sebastian Apesteguia, a palaeontologist from the National University of La Plata, told Reuters: "This print is bigger than any other we have found to date in the area.
"It is a record in size for carnivorous dinosaurs from the end of the Cretaceous period in South America."
A tour guide found the footprint 64km away from the Bolivian city of Sucre, an area well-known for preserved dinosaur tracks thanks to the soft ancient clay that can be found there.
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Sebastian Apesteguia next to the footprint to show the scale of it. Credit: Grover Marquina
Researchers don't actually know all that much about the Abelisaurus, as most of their knowledge is based off one fossilised skull they found in 1983.
However, this new footprint is said to give scientists an idea of how massive this monster actually was. By their estimations, this dinosaur was the apex predator of its time, much like the famous T-Rex would become 13 million years later.
Apparently the Abelisaurus became extinct 66 million years ago, having ruled the Earth for the 186 million years prior to that.
Not bad going. Not bad going at all.
Words by George Pavlou
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