Discovery of Ancient Fossil Trace
The world's first known butt-drag fossil trace was left by a rock hyrax in South Africa 126,000 years ago.
About Rock Hyraxes
Rock hyraxes, also known as "dassies" in southern Africa, are furry, thickset creatures with short legs and no discernible tails. They often sun themselves on rocky outcrops and occasionally drag their butts along the ground.
- This behavior can be a sign of parasitic infections in dogs, but the reason is less clear in hyraxes.
- The action leaves distinctive traces in sandy areas.
Study of Fossilized Tracks
At the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, researchers study ancient, fossilized tracks through the Cape south coast ichnology project.
Over the past few decades, they have found almost 400 vertebrate tracksites on the coast, some dating back 400,000 years, in cemented dunes known as aeolianites from the Pleistocene epoch.
No direct quote available in the text.
Author's summary: Ancient fossil trace found in South Africa.