New dinosaur find in central Switzerland
Geologists have found the first evidence that dinosaurs once inhabited central Switzerland. They have discovered footprints of the herbivorous Iguanodon species dating back 115 to 120 million years.
The Natural History Museum in Basel said on Friday 10 sets of prints had been found in a limestone rock near Beckenried in canton Nidwalden. Most of the 30 to 40 centimetre-long prints are thought to have been made by baby animals no more than two metres tall, although adult prints were also found.
The distance between the prints leads researchers to believe the two-legged animals with their broad, stiff tails were capable of a speed of just two kilometres per hour.
The museum says these are the first dinosaur prints dating back to the Cretaceous period to be found in Switzerland.
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