Walking with giants: first adult T. rex trackway reveals a calm stroll

TL;DR Summary
Researchers describe the first trackway attributed to an adult Tyrannosaurus rex: four large three-toed prints in Hell Creek mud near Marmarth, North Dakota, dating to about 66.5 million years ago. The 23-foot sequence records a 13-foot stride, implying the predator walked at roughly 3.5–4.5 mph—the pace of a brisk human walk. Advanced 3D scans confirm the prints belong to an adult rex, not juveniles or other species, and three of the four prints will be airlifted to the Denver Museum. This rare behavioral snapshot shows a towering carnivore moving calmly rather than sprinting, providing unique insight into T. rex locomotion.
- Four giant three-toed prints found in 2025 near Marmarth, North Dakota turned out to be the first trackway ever attributed to an adult T. rex, and the 66.5-million-year-old sequence records a 13-foot stride — the predator was strolling at 3.5 to 4.5 mph, about the Space Daily
- One giant step: first known adult T rex footprints found in North Dakota The Guardian
- First-ever adult Tyrannosaurus rex trackway discovered in North Dakota badlands CBS News
- How an Unlikely Fossil Hunter Found a Tyrannosaurus Trail National Geographic
- Colorado scientists make history, uncover Tyrannosaurus rex footprints 9News
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