How fast were dinosaurs? These mud-covered birds may show us.

The article discusses a study that challenges a long-standing method for estimating dinosaur speeds based on fossilized footprints. Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University tested the accuracy of this method by observing helmeted guinea fowls walking on various muddy surfaces and comparing their actual speeds to those predicted by the existing equations, which were originally based on mammalian gaits. The findings revealed that the equations consistently overestimated the birds' speeds, suggesting that the methodology may need revision to better reflect the movement of dinosaurs, particularly by considering the characteristics of their closest living relatives, birds. The study advocates for a more cautious application of the traditional equations in paleontological research. [Extracted from the article]