Dinosaur footprints uncovered by Texas drought at Dinosaur Valley State Park

State park says 'one of the longest dinosaur trackways in the world' is now visible for a short time

Visitors to the Texas park can walk in the tracks of dinosaurs in the bed of the Paluxy River. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

Between 120 to 100 million years ago, dinosaurs lived in the coastal shallows and offshore islands of Texas and left footprint evidence for geo-detectives to investigate. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

Severe drought conditions led to the tracks exposure. AFP

The tracks that were recently found belong to a theropod called Acrocanthosaurus and a sauropod called Sauroposeidon. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

The creatures probably made the footprints about 113 million years ago. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

Under normal river conditions, these newer tracks are underwater and filled with sediment, making them not as visible. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

More than 60 per cent of Texas experienced drought conditions last week following a heatwave. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

Regardless of the rains, the tracks will be preserved for a million more years. AFP

Officials say a new layer of sediment will help protect the tracks from natural weathering and erosion. AFP

With rain storms expected in the area soon, rangers at Dinosaur Valley State Park believe the tracks may become buried again. AFP

The park has a gift shop with dinosaur-themed souvenirs and books. Photo: Dinosaur Valley State Park

A historic drought in Texas has dried up a river flowing through Dinosaur Valley State Park, exposing tracks from giant reptiles that lived some 113 million years ago.

Photos posted on Facebook show three-toed footprints leading down a dry tree-lined riverbed, south-west of Dallas, in the southern US state.

It is "one of the longest dinosaur trackways in the world," a caption on one the posts says.

Stephanie Salinas Garcia of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the dry weather had made the tracks visible.

"Due to the excessive drought conditions this past summer, the river dried up completely in most locations, allowing for more tracks to be uncovered here in the park," she said.

"Under normal river conditions, these newer tracks are under water and are commonly filled in with sediment, making them buried and not as visible," Ms Garcia said.

Most of the recently revealed tracks were made by Acrocanthosaurus, a bipedal predator that weighed nearly 6.35 tonnes as an adult and stood 4.5 meters tall.

Another dinosaur, Sauroposeidon, also left tracks in the park. The long-necked herbivore was 18 metres tall and weighed 40 tonnes in adulthood.

The inland state park was once on the edge of an ancient ocean, and dinosaurs left footprints in the mud.

However, rain is in the forecast.

"While they will soon be buried again by the rain and the river, Dinosaur Valley State Park will continue to protect these 113 million-year-old tracks not only for present, but future generations," Ms Garcia said.

AFP contributed reporting