A groundbreaking discovery near Knysna has unveiled the youngest dinosaur tracks in Southern Africa, transforming our understanding of the region’s prehistoric timeline.
A team of ichnologists found these tracks during fieldwork along the Western Cape coast in early 2025. Estimated to be about 132 million years old, these tracks are significantly younger than the previously known tracks from the Karoo Basin, which date back around 182 million years.
Youngest Dinosaur Tracks Discovered in Knysna
The newly identified tracks were located in a small exposure of the Brenton Formation. Researchers uncovered more than two dozen probable tracks, indicating a diverse mix of dinosaurs, including theropods and ornithopods or sauropods. The site spans approximately 40 metres long and 5 metres wide, with many tracks located in the intertidal zone, submerged at high tide.
This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of dinosaur presence in the Knysna area. The findings suggest that dinosaurs roamed this region far later than previously believed, enriching the area’s Cretaceous fossil record.
Knysna’s Prehistoric Landscape Reimagined
During the early Cretaceous, the Knysna coastline was vastly different from today, characterized by river channels and sandy coastal plains rather than modern beaches. This environment likely supported a variety of dinosaur species, which researchers are eager to explore further.
The discovery aligns with another significant finding in 2025, where 140-million-year-old tracks were reported along the Western Cape coast. Together, these discoveries indicate a richer fossil record in the region than previously understood.
Future Exploration Plans
- Systematic searches of other Cretaceous rock exposures in the Western and Eastern Cape are recommended.
- Further exploration may uncover additional tracks and new skeletal fossils.
The discovery of the youngest dinosaur tracks in Southern Africa opens new avenues for understanding the region’s prehistoric past.
