Page 9 - Winter 2012 magazine-1

The creator of the footprint could be one of at least a half dozen ancient species. One of the strongest candidates
The creator of the footprint could be one of at least a half d
(
or t
IS
se
)

b
-F
ld
on wou
i
hi
i
E-
h
s
e-
s
op
l
o
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f for this region would be the Coelophysis (see-lo-FISE-iss) bauri, a carnivorous dinosaur with strong hind legs and
ys
s reg
h
e t
i
s
e Coe
[
2
short front legs. Coelophysis bauri
short front legs. Coelophysis bauri [2] ] lived in the Southwestern United States during the late Triassic
l
ived in the
d
p eriod. This small dinosaur, less than 10 feet in length and 3 feet tall at the hips,
ino
period. This small
was one of the earliest known species of dinosaurs. The Coelophysis was
w
as one of the
e
a
r
being more than twice as long as the forearms. The fore-
very slim with the hind legs b e
very slim with the hind legs
arms of the Coelophysis were short but the hands w e
arms of the Coelophysis were short but the hands
were relatively large with three functional, clawed fingers.
These talon-like hands likely grasped its prey, consisting o
These talon-like hands likely grasped its prey, consisting of early mammals and lizard-sized primitive reptiles.
Because of its hollow limb bones (Coelophysis means “hollow form”), he was likely a fast runner. The Coelophy-
Because of its hollow limb bones (Coelophysis means “h
sis’ large eyes, long neck and head, big mouth (containing over 100 serrated, blade-like teeth) and long, rudder-
sis’ large eyes, long neck and head, big mouth (contain
like tail gave him the speed and agility he needed to c
like tail gave him the speed and agility he needed to capture his meal.
Most of the knowledge about the Coelophysis is derived from fossils excavated at Ghost Ranch
Mt fth k ld b tth Cl hi id id f [3] [4] in Northern
New Mexico. Hundreds of fossilized specimens were discovered in a mass grave in 1947. The speculation was that
the dinosaurs could have gathered together to feed or drink from a water hole and then were killed and buried
during a flash flood, burying the dinosaurs quickly and simultaneously. There were also initial suggestions that the
Coelophysis was a cannibal; small fossilized remains were found in the abdominal cavities of some of the Ghost
Ranch specimens. Later research concluded that the fossilized snacks were small reptiles such as Hesperosuchus.
Since the discovery of the Ghost Ranch specimens, more skeletons have been found and identified in Arizona and
New Mexico with specimens being tentatively identified in Utah.
While we don’t know exactly what the Coelophysis looked like on the outside, there are multiple renderings based
both on science and artistic license. Please vote for your favorite dinosaur image shown on page 8.
I was excited to learn more about what could be one of the first recreational users of what is now Red Rock Canyon
and discovering a little bit more about this special place. This research effort has reinforced some of our core
values: Always be alert for flash floods, do not eat your children and leave only your footprints.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grallator [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelophysis

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Ranch [4] http://nmstatefossil.org/

Grallator Footprint Photo by Steve Rowland
Page 9