r/mildlyinteresting • u/Pondernautics • Jul 05 '21
I came across these theropod tracks while fly fishing in Leander, Texas
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Jul 05 '21
Man, that's extremely cool! Unreal.
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u/k4pain Jul 05 '21
It is very cool but very common in Texas. Look up dinosaur valley in Texas.
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u/Jorge_Palindrome Jul 05 '21
There’s also Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado.
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u/supert3ds Jul 05 '21
And Dinosaur BBQ in New Jersey.
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u/bearatrooper Jul 05 '21
And the dinosaur McDonald's in Tucson.
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u/amuday Jul 05 '21
And let’s not forget dinosaurs, the ancient reptilian creatures
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u/rabbitkingdom Jul 05 '21
And, more importantly, Dinosaurs - the hit TV show.
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u/RandyTheDwarf Jul 05 '21
Ah yes, the show I was watching when my parents told me they were getting a divorce
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u/thelivingna Jul 05 '21
sorry about that, man. did it ruin the show for you?
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u/RandyTheDwarf Jul 05 '21
My comment wasn't suppose to be sad, but now that you say it, I really don't think I've watched it since.
But I have a 4yo who might like it, and after 27 years the trauma is gone so maybe I'll give it another go! Lol
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u/sgtpennypepper Jul 05 '21
And most importantly, if you are Canadian, let's not forget the dinosours, the ancient gummy sour candy from McCormick's
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Jul 05 '21
That's not where I thought it was going to be!
I thought it was going to be closer to Dinosaur National Monument that's shared with Utah. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
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u/sharabi_bandar Jul 05 '21
Omg. That's fucking awesome. Thanks for sharing, just saw the pics, can't wait to go there.
Edit: I'm a 40yr adult 🤦🏾♂️
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u/dirt_cruz Jul 05 '21
Good thing you added the adult part, or we may have gotten the wrong idea.
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Jul 05 '21
A whole valley filled with Dinosaurs?
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Jul 05 '21 edited Aug 05 '21
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Jul 05 '21
If you like that you should visit Boerne Texas, tons of places around here you can see those sorta things, caves too
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u/SnarkyGnome Jul 05 '21
Having been to Boerne more times than I can count, I did not know this and am extremely sad! Where? What should I be looking up to take the kids?
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u/Voidrith Jul 05 '21
Its insane to think that a track like that sticks around for a hundred million years...from a single step of an animal.
Insane.
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u/Riptide031 Jul 05 '21
How are they still visible today?
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u/karlnite Jul 05 '21
They make the impression in silt or mud at the bottom of a river. The impression fills with heavier materials that flow by and “fall” out of the flowing water. Over time the silt is replaced with minerals but the difference in materials means the minerals form differently around the impression so it remains visible when later uncovered. Now that it is exposed it will wear and weather away quite quickly (compared to how long it took to form and sat there). Areas like this have the perfect conditions so fossil and foot prints are every where. Other places didn’t have the right conditions so we find no evidence or fossils, but stuff obviously lived there.
(My description of the process is probably really off, but basically it’s like a foot print in cement)
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u/sterexx Jul 05 '21
Step in mud. Mud gets baked by the sun for a few months to hold its shape. Eventually forms into rock, possibly after being covered by yet more soil.
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u/Comadd29 Jul 05 '21
I wouldn't go in the same direction as the print. You never know where it could be hiding
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u/CanIBeGirlPls Jul 05 '21
You’re high if you think I’m gonna go toward whatever this fucker is running from
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u/JustMy2Centences Jul 05 '21
Good point, I wonder if this dino was running from the general area of the gulf of Mexico, for reasons.
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u/KQHSWesMantooth Jul 05 '21
Clever girl
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u/lilGIOGIO Jul 05 '21
Attenborough voice: Tracks are still fresh. Shes in heat and looking for a mate. Its best i dont stick around
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u/jdayatwork Jul 05 '21
In a way, this could apply to either Attenborough
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u/phasE89 Jul 05 '21
There are multiple Attenboroughs?
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Jul 05 '21
Yep. One does the narrator voices for Planet Earth and such, the other (his brother) plays John Hammond in Jurassic Park.
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u/Mesapholis Jul 05 '21
Thank god my dating life was never retold by Sir David Attenborough... That would be depressing
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u/Megneous Jul 05 '21 edited Jul 05 '21
Here we find the reclusive neckbeard. We must be careful not to startle it, for its timid nature knows no equal in the animal kingdom. Watch how it agilely pulls the DoritosTM chips into its gullet, followed by a cautious sip of Mountain Dew Code RedTM.
Ah. It appears to now be searching for a mate. Logging into OkCupidTM , it is again disappointed to find no potential mates have returned its advances. But neckbeards are known for their perseverance. It will check again tomorrow.
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u/Mesapholis Jul 05 '21
I mean yeah, like that, only I'm a petite Asian woman and honestly I have some good stories. So if someone knows a sub where I can vent my dating history, that would be awesome
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u/rygoo Jul 05 '21
Might have the flattest foot arch in all of Texas
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u/Atomstanley Jul 05 '21
My dude’s foot looks like I drew him with my left hand and he became real
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u/oneantenna Jul 05 '21
I was trying to decide if I should post a comment about his flat foot. Just glad someone else noted it. Now I can sleep.
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u/G0LDI_L0CKS Jul 05 '21 edited Jul 05 '21
The poor bastards toes are also smashed together. Dude needs some bigger shoes
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u/alright_here_it_is Jul 05 '21
finding wide shoes is way more difficult than it needs to be
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u/HellsMalice Jul 05 '21
In Canada I buy Merrell shoes. They're fantastic quality and have a bunch of wide options.
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u/xxNightingale Jul 05 '21
Me: Studied about dinosaurs during school
Also me calling my friends: Holy shit guys there's a giant duck footprint over here.
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u/TheDankestYo Jul 05 '21
I live in Leander!! Where did you find this if you don't mind
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u/Dan-The-Trash-Man Jul 05 '21
San Gabriel river, south fork I believe, my dad took me and my brothers there over 20 years ago to feed the ducks and see the dinosaur footprints.
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u/NastyKraig Jul 05 '21
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Jul 05 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Meowzebub666 Jul 05 '21
Christ, sometimes it takes that long just to leave the state.
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u/VirusWithShoesGuy Jul 05 '21
If this is the one I’m aware of, it’s west of 183A on the south San Gabriel river about a quarter mile from the highway. OP might have a different location though.
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u/goofytigre Jul 05 '21
For the Leander people, I hope you know the area's history:
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u/WikiSummarizerBot Jul 05 '21
Leanderthal Lady, discovered in January 1983, is the skeletal remains of a prehistoric woman found at the Wilson-Leonard Brushy Creek Site (an ancient Native American campsite) in the city of Cedar Park, Texas, by the Texas Department of Transportation. The remains were also alternatively labeled "Leanne". Both names were inspired by the proximity of the site to the town of Leander, to the north.
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u/entoaggie Jul 05 '21
Wow. We always use Leanderthals to describe the high school kids we hire during the summer from Leander. Had no idea it was a real thing.
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u/profirix Jul 05 '21
It gives a whole new meaning to 'walking with dinosaurs'.
It is really awe-inspiring to think these giants roamed Earth way before us.
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Jul 05 '21 edited Jul 24 '21
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u/Unique_Frame_3518 Jul 05 '21
Dude thank you for the book recommend! Made my night :) just downloaded the audiobook from my library! Gonna fall asleep to dinosaurs, fuck yeah!!
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u/JonHail Jul 05 '21
You can fly fish that river?
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u/qlz19 Jul 05 '21
You can fly fish anything. Catching something is another story.
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Jul 05 '21
Can confirm. I've been flyfishing tigers my whole life. I've never caught anything but it's ok, it's just a hobby and a reason to get away.
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u/ryanknapper Jul 05 '21
This is too interesting, OP.
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u/Robin187 Jul 05 '21 edited Jul 05 '21
Which part of r/mildlyinteresting does OP not understand? Only *mildly* interesting posts are allowed here. And it's not even just a little bit interesting either. Go take your shit to some crappy r/toointeresting or r/veryinteresting forum, OP.
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u/IM_INSIDE_YOUR_HOUSE Jul 05 '21
How is this still here? How did it not erode or wash away or whatever? How did it even get initially imprinted that it stuck around like this?
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u/Gecko2002 Jul 05 '21
This kind of thing happens a lot surprisingly, I'm pretty sure they found some of prehistoric humans awhile back too
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u/bridge_view Jul 05 '21
Explore Dinosaur Tracks in Leander https://www.theoutbound.com/texas/chillin/explore-dinosaur-tracks-in-leander
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u/RedsRearDelt Jul 05 '21
My best friend just bought a house in Leander. He tried to take me to see the dinosaur prints but the river was flooded.
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u/dxtboxer Jul 05 '21
I’ve never even found an arrowhead wtf..
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u/ink_stained Jul 05 '21
It’s easy! Google what you can find in your state and where to find it. My 7 year old is super into it, and I’ve been shocked at how fun and easy it can be to find stuff at a good site.
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Jul 05 '21
What is it like fly fishing, I’ve thought about trying.
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u/FlopsyBunny Jul 05 '21
Oregon guy here. Just try it. Very intimate & quiet. Casting, presenting,drifting, sinking, all done silently. I am as pleased to get a look as I am to get a fish. Catching fish does not matter much. It's even better if you tie the fly or wrap the fly rod.
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u/Pondernautics Jul 05 '21
It’s awesome. I just got into it. The people in the hobby are really cool too. Check out your local fly shop for help getting started. I recommend craigslist and Facebook marketplace for good deals in secondhand gear
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u/RatherBWriting Jul 05 '21
Flyfisher for 30 years here. It's a really fun hobby which brings you much closer to nature. Don't fall for the insane prices of some of the bigger brands though. China has got some great rods and reels which are miles in front of anything available a decade ago for top dollar
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u/Ubersla Jul 05 '21
The title kinda suggests that you discovered this all by yourself, when in reality it’s well known this area is full of tracks, yes?
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u/trafalux Jul 05 '21
he said „came across”… i could go to museum for example and say, „i came across this cool statue”, even though its well known its been there for a long time. i didnt read the title the way you suggested
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u/BTmom5 Jul 05 '21
If that's the river off the 183, there are more upstream that are deeper/more prominent. (Might be easier to get to when drier) We took a couple of our dogs there
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u/rick-atrox Jul 05 '21
There are a ton of track locations in various areas surrounding Austin (with in a couple hours I am meaning). I haven't been to Leander to look around, that's super cool!
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u/Pondernautics Jul 05 '21 edited Jul 05 '21
https://imgur.com/a/w4Kh2ay/
Online information says the site is possibly from an Acrocanthosaurus. Early Cretaceous, 100-125 million years ago.