Are dinosaur footprints real fossils?

Yes, they're a specific category of fossil called trace fossils or ichnofossils. They're not the bones or body of the animal but evidence of its behaviour. Tracks form when an animal walks through soft mud or sand that later hardens and gets buried under sediment.

How big was a real T-Rex footprint?

Adult T-Rex footprints are about 33 to 36 inches (84-91 cm) long. The famous track from Hell Creek in Montana is 33 inches. The size reflects an animal walking on three large toes with two functional digits in front and one rear toe that left a small impression.

Can you tell speed from a footprint?

Yes, with reasonable accuracy. Paleontologists measure stride length (distance between successive footprints from the same foot) and use formulas derived from modern bird and reptile locomotion. Studies of theropod trackways suggest T-Rex could run 12-25 mph (slower than once thought), while smaller raptors hit 35-40 mph.

What's the difference between a track and a cast?

A track is the original impression, the negative space left by the foot. A cast forms when sediment fills the impression and hardens, creating a positive replica of the foot. Museums display both: a real depressed track in stone, or a cast in resin showing the foot shape in relief.

Are dinosaur footprint replicas worth displaying?

Yes, they're often more visually striking than skeleton replicas because they're large and instantly recognisable. A 10-inch resin theropod footprint reads as "dinosaur" without needing any explanation. Good replicas come with provenance info, the specific site the original was found in.

Dinosaur footprints: the science behind track casts