This is the oldest dinosaur footprint ever found in Thailand and Asia.

The Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has made a groundbreaking discovery of prehistoric animal footprints in the Phetchabun-Khon Kaen border region, as reported by Nationthailand on January 14, 2024.

These footprints are estimated to be over 225 million years old, making them the oldest dinosaur footprints ever found in Thailand and Asia.

The footprints were discovered by a team of paleontologists from the Department of Mineral Resources (under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand) during a survey in January 2024.

The Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued an official statement on its Facebook page, noting that the footprints belong to 5 different species.

Among them are the ‘Theropod’ (bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs), ‘Sauropod’ (long-necked dinosaurs), and ‘Ornithopod’ (a large herbivorous group, including duck-billed dinosaurs).

The footprints were found in a mudstone layer from the late Triassic period (252-201 million years ago). They are well-preserved, revealing details such as toe impressions, claw marks, and the soles of the dinosaurs’ feet.

During the late Triassic period, the continents on Earth were united into a single supercontinent called Pangaea. The discovery of these footprints will provide new insights into the dinosaur species that once inhabited Southeast Asia during this time.

The discovery of these footprints is significant as it provides new insights into the diversity and ecosystem of dinosaurs in Thailand during the late Triassic period. These footprints help fill gaps in scientists’ understanding of the evolutionary processes of dinosaurs in Asia.

The Mineral Resources Department of Thailand plans to conduct further research on these footprints to identify the specific dinosaur species that created them. The footprints will also be preserved for future generations.

Discovering dinosaur footprints is a major scientific breakthrough that has the potential to reshape our understanding of Earth’s history and prehistoric life. The Mineral Resources Department of Thailand states that these footprints offer a glimpse into a world that existed millions of years ago when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Currently, the Thai government will collaborate with local agencies to conduct more in-depth exploration and provide detailed documentation before the onset of the rainy season, which could potentially wash away and destroy any remaining traces.

These findings will contribute significantly to academic research in the fields of biology and geology.