Aravinth's real world

The footprints were found in the South Island region of Nelson – the first evidence of the dinosaur’s existence in the country.

Geologist Greg Browne of the New Zealand government-owned research organisation, G.N.S. Science, found the footprints while he was investigating rock and sediment formations in Whanganui inlet at Golden Bay, said a press release of Tourism New Zealand here.

The footprints were in six locations spread over an area of about 10km.

Browne said the prints were made by sauropods – large herbivorous dinosaurs with long necks and tails and pillar-like legs.

Palaeontologist Hamish Campbell said the find was ‘hugely exciting’ and added: ‘We will now go and examine rocks of comparable age.’

Browne said the footprints were made in beach sands and were probably quickly covered and preserved by mud from subsequent tides.