Scientists studying the famous Oxfordshire “dinosaur highway” have announced that one of the giant trackways may represent the longest known sauropod trackway discovered anywhere in the world. The remarkable sequence of footprints, uncovered at Dewars Farm Quarry, could have been made by a single Cetiosaurus as it wandered across a Jurassic mudflat around 166 million years ago.

The Dewars Farm Quarry excavation work taking place in June 2024. Picture credit: The University of Birmingham.

Picture credit: The University of Birmingham

A Giant Dinosaur Left Its Footprints

Researchers have traced the trackway for approximately two-hundred and twenty metres. This enormous trail records the movements of a huge, long-necked herbivore. Furthermore, scientists think the tracks were made by a Cetiosaurus or a sauropod similar to Cetiosaurus, the first sauropod to be scientifically described (Owen, 1841). In total, four sauropod trackways at the site have been discovered. In addition, the site has yielded several other trackways, including those of a meat-eating dinosaur.  These tracks have been tentatively assigned to Megalosaurus.

The original discovery attracted worldwide attention when details were formally announced in early 2025. The sauropod tracks represent animals of different sizes.  This suggests some intriguing possibilities.  For example, the tracks could represent a family moving together, or the trackways could represent a group of unrelated animals moving together.  In an interview with Radio Oxfordshire, co-leader of the excavation Dr Emma Nichols (Oxford University Museum of Natural History), opined that the trace fossils could represent more than one type of sauropod.

Working on the Dewars Farm Quarry dinosaur tracks. Picture credit: Caroline Wood University of Oxford.

Picture credit: Caroline Wood University of Oxford

The Oxfordshire “Dinosaur Highway” Made by a Cetiosaurus (Possibly)

The tracks cannot be linked directly to a skeleton. However, the footprints closely resemble those expected from a large, narrow-gauge sauropod. Consequently, scientists have suggested that the trackmaker was probably Cetiosaurus.

Cetiosaurus lived during the Middle Jurassic. It reached lengths of around eighteen metres and weighed many tonnes. Moreover, the type species, Cetiosaurus oxoniensis, was named from fossils discovered in Oxfordshire. Therefore, assigning the tracks to this dinosaur makes geological sense.

Fossils ascribed to the taxon Cetiosaurus on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article from January 2025 (formal announcement of quarry discovery): Remarkable Dinosaur Highway Uncovered in Oxfordshire.

Following in the Footsteps of Jurassic Giants

Trackways provide a different type of evidence from fossil bones. Skeletons reveal anatomy. However, footprints capture behaviour. They show how dinosaurs moved and interacted with their environment. Using modern imaging techniques, researchers have created detailed three-dimensional models of the trackway. As a result, scientists can estimate walking speed and study the animal’s gait. The Oxfordshire trackways represent one of the most important dinosaur discoveries made in Britain for decades. Furthermore, they provide a rare snapshot of life during the Middle Jurassic.

An illustration of a typical sauropod from the Middle Jurassic (Cetiosaurus). It is thought that the Oxfordshire “dinosaur highway” was created by Cetiosaurus or sauropods similar to Cetiosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

One of the World’s Most Important Dinosaur Sites

At the time the tracks were made, much of Britain was covered by a shallow sea. The Oxfordshire area formed part of a shallow tropical landscape. Mudflats and lagoons provided ideal conditions for preserving footprints. Consequently, the tracks survived for millions of years beneath layers of sediment.

Scientists continue to investigate the quarry. Therefore, further discoveries may yet emerge from this extraordinary site.  However, it is not the only site where long trackways of sauropod dinosaurs have been discovered.

Commenting on the on-going research, Mike from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“The Dewars Farm Quarry site is remarkable. Scientists think there are more footprints awaiting discovery. Hopefully, the site’s owners will continue to work closely with the researchers as well as Natural England to ensure that these fossils are preserved.”

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Birmingham supplied in January 2025 in the compilation of this article.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Models of Dinosaurs.

Researchers have described a single dinosaur caudal vertebra (tail bone) from Denman Island (British Columbia, Canada).  It has been identified as an ornithomimosaur caudal vertebra. The fossil, thought to represent a bone from the middle part of the tail, is only the second dinosaur fossil identified from the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group. In addition, it is the first definitive dinosaur fossil found in Canadian outcrops. Specifically, the caudal vertebra is from marine sediments of the Campanian-aged Cedar District Formation. The fossil discovery suggests that ostrich-like dinosaurs were present on the western margins of Laramidia.

A single dinosaur caudal vertebra similar to the fossil discovery. A tail bone ascribed to the Ornithomimosauria clade has been found in Upper Cretaceous deposits on Denman Island (British Columbia). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Dinosaur Caudal Vertebra

The discovery of the single caudal bone is only the second reported occurrence of dinosaur fossils from the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group. In 2015, we reported a partial theropod femur from Sucia Island (Washington State, USA). Interestingly, this bone also derives from the Cedar District Formation, but it is geologically older than the ornithomimosaur tail bone.

• Partial theropod femur (Washington State, USA) – 83.6 to 79.8 mya
• Mid-caudal ornithomimosaur vertebra (Denman Island, British Columbia, Canada) – 79.8 to 75.5 mya

mya = millions of years ago.

To read our blog post from 2015 about the partial theropod femur fossil discovery: Washington State’s First Dinosaur.

The Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group

The deposits of the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group of Vancouver Island have been studied for decades. Numerous vertebrate fossils have been collected representing a diverse marine biota. For example, fossils of fish including sharks, pterosaurs, elasmosaurids and birds have been found. However, despite intensive collecting no dinosaur fossils had been discovered.

Writing in the journal “FACETS” researchers, Victoria Arbour (Royal British Columbian Museum), Timon Bullard (École Secondaire Esquimalt High School) and David Evans (Royal Ontario Museum) describe an isolated theropod caudal vertebra. The fossil was found in marine sediments of the Campanian-aged Cedar District Formation of Denman Island. This small island is located off the eastern coast of the much larger Vancouver Island.

Contemporaneous with Judith River and Two Medicine Formation Biotas

The bone resembles the tail bones of ornithomimosaurs. However, the specimen cannot be identified at the family level. It was likely transported from the western margin of North America to the east. The Nanaimo Group was deposited at least 37o miles (600 km) south of its present position, and this ornithomimosaur likely lived at a similar palaeolatitude to contemporaneous dinosaur faunas in the Two Medicine and Judith River formations in the Western Interior.

Ornithomimosaurs were probably feathered.  In addition, they had long necks, small skulls and lengthy tails. Analysis of the long and graceful hindlimbs suggests that these dinosaurs were fast runners. The caudal vertebra found on Denman Island is likely to have come from the middle part of the animal’s tail.

The image (above) is that of the recently introduced CollectA Deluxe Gallimimus model.  It is a popular figure with collectors and dinosaur fans.  Furthermore, it is one of very few models representing ornithomimosaurs available.

To view the CollectA Deluxe range of prehistoric animal models: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animals.

The scientific paper: “An ornithomimosaur from the Campanian Cedar District Formation (Nanaimo Group) of Denman Island, British Columbia, Canada” by Victoria M. Arbour, Timon S. Bullard and David C. Evans published in FACETS.

For models of ornithomimosaurs and other dinosaurs: Theropod Models and Dinosaur Toys.

Palaeontologists have described a new species of microraptorine theropod from north-western China. Named Jian changmaensis, this small, feathered dinosaur probably glided on four wings. The fossil provides fresh insights into Early Cretaceous ecosystems and extends the known range of the Microraptorinae. The fossil material consists of an articulated partial left pectoral girdle and forelimb. It consists of a complete scapulocoracoid, humerus, radius, and ulna. The specimen number is GSGM-D050.

The fossil comes from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation of the Changma Basin (Gansu Province). These lake deposits date to the Aptian faunal stage. Researchers have collected more than one hundred bird fossils from this site. However, no non-avian dinosaur body fossils had been described until now. Jian is the first non-avian dinosaur body fossil from the Xiagou Formation of the Changma Basin.

Jian changmaensis life reconstruction. The new microraptorine theropod Jian changmaensis (left) attacks the early bird Gansus yumenensis (right) in what is now the Changma Basin of north-western China approximately 120 million years ago. Picture credit: illustration by Lewis LaRosa, colourised by Jão Canol.

Picture credit: Lewis LaRosa, colourised by Jão Canol

Jian changmaensis from the Xiagou Formation

The location is famous for the relative abundance of aquatic bird fossils. This assemblage is dominated by fossils of the pigeon-sized Gansus yumenensis. Classified as an ornithuran, G. yumenensis is thought to be a closely related to the ancestors of modern birds. Many of the specimens preserved in the fine-grained mudstones show soft tissue structures like feathers and webbing between their toes. This prehistoric bird was probably volant and capable of diving.

Scientists Suspected the Presence of a Predator

Intriguingly, palaeontologists had found examples of crushed bird bones and evidence of regurgitated remains, interpreted as undigestible pellets coughed up by a predator. Scientists speculated that a larger predatory animal must have hunted these ancient birds. However, direct fossil evidence proved elusive. Although far from complete, the limb bones preserve enough anatomical information to identify a new genus and species within the Dromaeosauridae family.  Specifically, phylogenetic analysis places Jian changmaensis within the Microraptorinae subfamily. This group contains small dromaeosaurids closely related to Microraptor. Members of this clade are famous for their feathered limbs and possible gliding abilities.

Holotype of Jian changmaensis, (GSGM-D050), an articulated partial left pectoral girdle (scapulocoracoid) and forelimb (humerus, radius, and ulna). Silhouette of generalised microraptorine dromaeosaurid theropod (courtesy Scott Hartman) showing skeletal elements preserved (A). Photograph of specimen as preserved, exposed primarily in dorsomedial (scapulocoracoid), caudodorsal (humerus), and dorsal (radius and ulna) views (B). Interpretive line drawing (C) of B. Photograph of scapulocoracoid and proximal end of humerus in caudodorsal view (D), showing supracoracoid fenestra and other structures. Interpretive line drawing (E) of D. Abbreviations: ac, acromion; bc, bicipital crest; C, coracoid; cr, caudal ridge; dep, dorsal epicondyle; dpc, deltopectoral crest; dr, dorsal ridge; ed, epicondylar depression; fs?, fossa for M. supinator?; H, humerus; hh, humeral head; lp, lateral process; ‘mb’, ‘medial bar’; op, olecranon process; R, radius; S, scapula; scb, scapular blade; scf, supracoracoid fenestra; sta, sternal articulation; U, ulna. Picture credit: Zhou et al.

Picture credit: Zhou et al

A Relative of Microraptor

The researchers surmise that Jian changmaensis probably possessed feathers on both its arms and legs. Therefore, it likely had four wing surfaces. This arrangement may have helped it glide through the forests of Early Cretaceous China. The discovery expands the known fossil record of the Microraptorinae into north-western China. In addition, the partial pectoral girdle indicates that J. changmaensis was much larger than Microraptor. It is one of the largest microraptorines known to science. The fossil material suggests an animal with a wingspan of around a metre to 1.2 metres. This suggests that Jian would have had a wingspan comparable in size to that of the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo).

The PNSO Microraptor figure, new for 2020 swoops into view.

The picture (above) shows a model of Microraptor.  It is the PNSO Gaoyuan model.  Microraptor had feathers on its arms and legs, and it has been speculated that it was capable of gliding.

To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models in stock: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Figures.

Similarities with the Famous Jehol Biota

Scientists noted striking similarities between the Changma Basin and the famous Jehol deposits of north-eastern China. Both regions contain microraptorine dinosaurs. Furthermore, both ecosystems included early birds. The Changma deposits contain abundant remains of Gansus yumenensis. Likewise, some Jehol localities are dominated by closely related early birds.

These similarities suggest that the two regions may have shared comparable environments. Such habitats are poorly represented at many other Jehol fossil sites.

The fascinating Jehol Biota: The Jehol Biota.

To read a blog post about a new tiny dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Jehol fossil sites: New Dromaeosaurid from Liaoning Province (Jehol Biota).

First Non-avian Dinosaur from Changma

The discovery of Jian changmaensis marks an important milestone. It represents the first non-avian dinosaur body fossil reported from the Xiagou Formation. Moreover, the fossil demonstrates that small dromaeosaurids lived alongside numerous early birds. Consequently, scientists now have a better understanding of the biodiversity preserved within the Changma Basin.

Although only part of the skeleton is known, Jian changmaensis provides valuable information. The fossil helps researchers reconstruct the distribution and evolution of microraptorines.

In addition, the discovery highlights the importance of the Changma Basin. Future finds could reveal even more dinosaurs from these remarkable deposits.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Field Museum (Chicago) in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “First non-avian theropod (Dromaeosauridae, Microraptorinae) from the bird-bearing Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation of the Changma Basin, Gansu Province, north-western China” by Ling-Qi Zhou, Matthew C. LaManna, Ashley W. Poust, Da-Qing Li, Hai-Lu You and Jingmai K. O’Connor published in the Annals of the Carnegie Museum.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.