在北纬21°的中国沙滩上，曾有恐龙漫步

Core Insights - The discovery of dinosaur footprints in Guangxi, China, has extended the known distribution of dinosaur tracks to the northernmost point along the Beibu Gulf, providing new insights into the diversity and paleoecology of dinosaurs in South China and Southeast Asia during the Middle to Late Jurassic period [1][2]. Group 1: Discovery and Research - A research team found seven theropod footprints preserved on a rock slab measuring approximately 4 square meters in Nannushan Village, Dongxing City, Guangxi, in 2021 [2]. - The research was conducted by Guangxi Natural Museum, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and the Dinosaur Mystery Science Museum, with findings published in the international journal "Earth History and Biodiversity" [2]. Group 2: Footprint Analysis - The team identified two types of footprints: Type A, attributed to a medium-sized theropod dinosaur approximately 3 to 4 meters long, with a walking speed of about 1 meter per second, suggesting it was a nimble predator related to theropods from the Sichuan Basin [2][6]. - Type B footprints, although poorly preserved, measured 47.6 centimeters in length, indicating a dinosaur over 6 meters long, possibly belonging to the Allosaurus or Carcharodontosaurus families, suggesting the presence of top predators in the region during the Middle to Late Jurassic [6]. Group 3: Broader Implications - The research systematically cataloged 14 significant dinosaur fossil sites in Guangxi, highlighting the region as a "natural laboratory" for studying Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata, covering various periods from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous [6]. - The ongoing study of dinosaur fossils in Guangxi is expected to unveil the mysteries of the Mesozoic dinosaur world in South China and Southeast Asia [6].