The new species, Ruopodosaurus clava, reveals that ankylosaurids lived in North America during a gap in the fossil record.

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified the first known footprints of ankylosaurids, a subgroup of armored dinosaurs, in the Canadian Rockies. These 100-million-year-old tracks, found in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, and northwestern Alberta, represent a vital piece of evidence for paleontologists studying the evolution of dinosaurs in North America. Named Ruopodosaurus clava, meaning 'the tumbled-down lizard with a club/mace,' this new species sheds light on the presence of ankylosaurids during a period where their bones were previously thought to be absent. The discovery was made by a team, including Dr. Victoria Arbour from the Royal BC Museum and Dr. Charles Helm from the Tumbler Ridge Museum, who examined three-toed tracks dating back to the mid-Cretaceous period, between 100 to 94 million years ago. This period is critical as it fills a significant gap in the fossil record where no ankylosaurid bones were found, leading some paleontologists to speculate they had vanished from the continent. Importantly, this find indicates that nodosaurids and ankylosaurids coexisted, challenging previous assumptions about the extinction of ankylosaurids in North America. Dr. Helm emphasized the significance of Tumbler Ridge as a site for dinosaur research, stating the region is crucial for understanding dinosaur evolution. The study has been published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, illustrating the ongoing discoveries that continue to reshape our understanding of prehistoric life in North America. Furthermore, this find underscores the importance of paleontological research in areas like the Peace Region, which remains ripe for further exploration and discovery, suggesting that we may still find more relics of North America's prehistoric giants. This article reveals not just a scientific achievement, but the narrative of discovery in paleontology, where every fossil has the potential to rewrite historical understanding.