Paleontologists have identified the first known trackway made by a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex, offering new details about the dinosaur’s movement and behavior. The discovery, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, consists of four connected footprints found in the Hell Creek Formation of southwestern North Dakota.
The trackway, measuring 23 feet long, was uncovered in 2025 on U.S. Forest Service land near Marmarth, North Dakota. Each footprint is approximately three feet long, with a three-toed shape characteristic of tyrannosaurids. Researchers attribute the tracks to an adult T. rex based on their size, shape, and the presence of other tyrannosaur fossils in the region, including a juvenile specimen nicknamed “Teen Rex.”
Analysis of the trackway suggests the dinosaur was walking at a speed of 3.5 to 4.5 miles per hour, despite weighing over seven tons. The spacing between footprints indicates a steady, unhurried gait, challenging depictions of T. rex as a fast-moving predator.
The discovery was made by Kent Hups, a high school teacher and amateur fossil hunter, during a volunteer dig led by Dr. Tyler Lyson of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Hups, who has worked on paleontological projects for years, described the find as an unexpected outcome of his passion for science education. “As a teacher, I'm always telling my students that science starts with curiosity, passion and careful observation,” Hups said. “I never imagined that could lead me to a discovery like this.”
The trackway was scanned in 3D by researchers from the Denver Museum, allowing for detailed analysis of the footprints without the need for physical excavation. Lead author Professor Peter Falkingham of Liverpool John Moores University used the data to estimate the dinosaur’s walking speed and movement patterns.
Researchers emphasized the rarity of such findings, noting that only two isolated adult T. rex footprints had previously been confirmed worldwide. “Bones tell us an enormous amount about these animals, but footprints capture a moment of behavior,” Lyson said. “With a trackway, we can actually follow an animal as it moved across the landscape. That is incredibly rare for T. rex.”
The study provides a rare glimpse into the behavior of one of the most iconic dinosaurs, offering evidence that T. rex may have moved more slowly than often portrayed in popular culture. The research team plans to continue analyzing the trackway to uncover additional details about the dinosaur’s lifestyle and environment.