New AI App Identifies Dinosaur Footprints Like a Pro

Imagine finding a footprint from 200 million years ago and knowing exactly which dinosaur made it. Scientists just made that possible with a smartphone app.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and Helmholtz-Zentrum in Germany launched DinoTracker, a free app that uses artificial intelligence to identify dinosaurs from their footprints. The system matches expert classifications about 90% of the time, turning anyone's phone into a paleontology tool.

"When we find a dinosaur footprint, we try to do the Cinderella thing and find the foot that matches the slipper," said Professor Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh. But identifying prints isn't simple because their shape depends on the dinosaur's foot, the mud or sand they walked through, and how they moved.

Previous AI systems relied on footprints already labeled by humans. The problem? Those labels might be wrong. "You never find a footprint and alongside it the dinosaur that made this footprint," explained Dr. Gregor Hartmann, lead researcher. "Most likely some of these labels are wrong."

The team took a smarter approach. They fed their AI 2,000 unlabeled footprint silhouettes and let the system discover patterns on its own. The AI identified eight key features that matter most, like toe spread, ground contact, and heel position.

Users can now upload any footprint silhouette to explore the seven most similar prints in the database. They can even manipulate features to see how small changes affect which dinosaurs might be a match.

Why This Inspires

This app democratizes dinosaur discovery. Amateur fossil hunters and curious kids now have the same tools experts use. Weekend explorers who stumble upon mysterious prints can contribute to science instead of just wondering what they found.

The system has already revealed fascinating insights. It confirmed that certain Triassic and early Jurassic footprints look remarkably birdlike, despite being 60 million years older than the oldest known bird fossils. While debate continues about whether early birds existed much sooner than we thought or meat-eating dinosaurs just had very birdlike feet, the AI proved paleontologists weren't seeing patterns that didn't exist.

The technology transforms how we understand prehistoric life. By analyzing thousands of footprints quickly and objectively, researchers can spot patterns humans might miss and test theories faster than ever before.

Future updates may include automatic checks for matching geological ages and materials, making identifications even more reliable. For now, human experts still verify the results, but the partnership between AI and paleontology is already changing the field.

DinoTracker puts millions of years of history in your pocket, ready to unlock mysteries hidden in stone.