Dinosaur footprints discovered in the South Island

70 million-year-old dinosaur footprints have been discovered in New Zealand’s South Island, in northwest Nelson, by GNS Science geologist Greg Browne.

The footprints are the first such to be found in New Zealand, and are also the first evidence of dinosaurs in the South Island.  After considering a number of different alternative, Dr Browne concluded that they belonged to sauropods: large plant-eating dinosaurs with long necks and tails and pillar-like legs.

The footprints range in diameter between 10 and 60cm, suggesting they were made by animals between 2 and 6m long.

News coverage:

Herald on Sunday: Dinosaur footprints in South Island revealed

NZ Herald: Dinosaur footprints found in Nelson (+video)

One News/NZPA: Dinosaurs leave their mark near Nelson

3 News: Nelson’s dinosaur footprints excite scientists