PLoS One December 2023 PMID 38019739

The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa.

Miengah Abrahams, Emese M Bordy

Mentions

76
Peak: 33 in Dec 2023
across 7 sources since Nov 2023

Extended reach

223,596
potential audience

Total likes

6,403

Video views

98,759

Mentions per month

Nov 2023 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter46 posts
  • Facebook10 posts
  • Reddit9 posts
  • News6 articles
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts
  • Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Several discussions emphasize the importance of the footprints as evidence of early bird-like animals, with users referencing the study directly and debating its implications. The tone varies from supportive assertions, such as mentioning the footprints predate bird skeletons by 60 million years, to skepticism about their classification, with words like 'questioning,' 'debate,' and 'support' illustrating the differing perspectives and levels of engagement around the article's significance.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The posts show mixed reactions, with some questioning the interpretation and others supporting the significance of the discovery, leading to a neutral overall score.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions highlight curiosity about the fossil footprints and their implications, indicating high interest among the participants.

EngagementModerate engagement

Many posts cite specific aspects like the age of the footprints and their implications for evolution, revealing a moderate level of detailed engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The majority consider the findings important for understanding early bird evolution and dinosaur-to-bird transition, suggesting a perceived moderate to high impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The study discusses fossil footprints from the late Triassic and early Jurassic periods in southern Africa, which show birdlike characteristics and predate the earliest known bird skeletons by about 60 million years, providing new insights into early bird evolution.
  • Since fossil footprints can reveal behaviors and diversity of ancient animals, they are especially valuable for understanding early bird and dinosaur evolution, particularly when skeletal fossils are limited or absent.
  • The findings suggest that bird-like animals with certain foot features existed earlier than previously thought, challenging current ideas about the timeline of the dinosaur-to-bird transition and highlighting the significance of track evidence in evolutionary studies.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
@TomHoltzPaleo · X

#PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 34 likes · 10 shares · 32,077 followers View post →
UCT Geology
@UCTgeology · X

Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. These traces predate basal birds by ~60 million years! @GenusPalaeo @PalPSSA @SciSuperheroes #wedigfossils

Nov 30, 2023 · 16 likes · 8 shares · 390 followers View post →
Nicholas Christie-Blick
@christieblick · X

@ICRscience The claim is incompatible with the #science. The newly documented tridactyl tracks are consistent with the theory of #evolution. [Abrahams, M., and Bordy, E.M., 2023, The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa: PLoS ONE 18(11): e0293021]

Dec 7, 2023 · 6 likes · 1 share · 263 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

@ICRscience For anybody interested in the scirnce unfiltered by ICR https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna

Dec 7, 2023 · 5 likes · 374 followers View post →
Bart Klink
@KlinkBart · X

Hoe creationist Jan van Meerten (@JanvanMeerten) paleontologisch onderzoek verkeerd weergeeft en daarmee een probleem ziet dat niet bestaat. Een draadje. Origineel artikel: https://t.co/iPTS4D5n4a, creationistische bespreking ervan: https://t.co/bEdZjPX31N. (1/)

Dec 7, 2023 · 4 likes · 959 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

@CovfefeClick @StephenCMeyer Wrong. It’s the other way around. Nothing in these footprints suggests that they are definitely bird tracks. They lack uniquely avian characteristics, as all bird-like features can be found in other non-avian archosaurs. https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna https://t.co/pvN6olykQ7

Jan 3, 2024 · 3 likes · 374 followers View post →

All mentions

Hans Elysia chlorotica
@ElysiaHans · X

RT @ElysiaHans: @SFT_Ministries @melsfaith154016 @hostkisser @CreationMuseum There is no temporal paradox. First of all, regarding the foot…

Jul 13, 2025 · 1 share · 82 followers View post →
Hans Elysia chlorotica
@ElysiaHans · X

@SFT_Ministries @melsfaith154016 @hostkisser @CreationMuseum There is no temporal paradox. First of all, regarding the footprints defined in the article you captioned, the original study clearly states that the candidate for these bird-like footprints is not a bird. https://t.co/rFPwiMVjUg Furthermore, these footprints do not have an

Jul 13, 2025 · 3 likes · 1 share · 82 followers View post →
Finn Wilson
@FinnWilson9 · X

@leroyb756 @DPadenAkaterry @ElysiaHans @cloisteredoystr You can read the paper for yourself. https://t.co/sqHcZ57gVO They repeatedly call it bird-like (including in the paper title), but rather than a bird, they say in the discussion it's "likely that Morphotype II tracks were made by a yet-to-be-found tridactyl archosaur."

Mar 10, 2025 · 143 followers View post →
Bad Leroy Brown
@leroyb756 · X

@Abolition__Now AiG is perfectly correct. "Here, we present numerous, well-provenanced, Late Triassic and Early Jurassic tridactyl tracks from southern Africa, with demonstrable bird-like affinities, predating basal bird body fossils by c. 60 million years." https://t.co/DuOaPamuBJ

Jun 15, 2024 · 1 like · 1,532 followers View post →
Bad Leroy Brown
@leroyb756 · X

@TimPieper7 @SPITSTER01 @AiG Your imagination isnt an argument for evolution. https://t.co/DuOaPan2rh

Jan 3, 2024 · 1,532 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

@CovfefeClick @StephenCMeyer Wrong. It’s the other way around. Nothing in these footprints suggests that they are definitely bird tracks. They lack uniquely avian characteristics, as all bird-like features can be found in other non-avian archosaurs. https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna https://t.co/pvN6olykQ7

Jan 3, 2024 · 3 likes · 374 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

@StephenCMeyer https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna https://t.co/f6A7gj8dzA

Jan 3, 2024 · 2 likes · 374 followers View post →
Yoshitugu Tuduki/都築良継
@TSMoon56 · X

RT @rex_toyo: 論文へのリンク https://t.co/z4ByNY8xgd

Dec 30, 2023 · 1 share · 2,944 followers View post →
とよけらとぷす
@rex_toyo · X

論文へのリンク https://t.co/z4ByNY8xgd

Dec 30, 2023 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,151 followers View post →
Terra Rara
@Terra_Rara · X

PEGADAS MISTERIOSAS SEMELHANTES A DE PÁSSAROS NA ÁFRICA SÃO ANTERIORES À EXISTÊNCIA DE PÁSSAROS https://t.co/ehnI9zgjql Credibilidade: 999 #Pássaros Fósseis de pegadas semelhantes a aves em África, remontam a cerca de 210 milhões de anos. ... https://t.co/NSlCBL5nYX https://t.co/AbdjymG404

Dec 22, 2023 · 349 followers View post →
Charlse Newman: Official War Artist, Possum Party
@narngaloo · X

RT @IBIS_journal: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa | https://t.co/OsSWLPnBw5 | @PLOSONE |…

Dec 11, 2023 · 1 share · 732 followers View post →
BOU
@IBIS_journal · X

The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa | https://t.co/OsSWLPnBw5 | @PLOSONE | #ornithology

Dec 11, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 21,479 followers View post →
The Jefferson Bible, TJB
@ThomJefferBible · X

RT @christieblick: @ICRscience The claim is incompatible with the #science. The newly documented tridactyl tracks are consistent with the t…

Dec 8, 2023 · 1 share · 1,075 followers View post →
Science Furs
@scifurs.bsky.social · Bluesky

The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

Dec 8, 2023 · 3 likes · 1 share View post →
Science Furs
@Sci_Furs · X

The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/99o1aNBJoG

Dec 8, 2023 · 2,276 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

@ApoloJedi_ Maybe read the paper. The bird-like characteristics aren’t avian-specific and are found in OTHER dinosaur trackways. https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna

Dec 7, 2023 · 374 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna Not a bird, the paper in open access. https://t.co/dMK1AGF9cC

Dec 7, 2023 · 374 followers View post →
Julian Norris
@Paleoguy073 · X

@ICRscience For anybody interested in the scirnce unfiltered by ICR https://t.co/vr8IVdLVna

Dec 7, 2023 · 5 likes · 374 followers View post →
Nicholas Christie-Blick
@christieblick · X

@ICRscience The claim is incompatible with the #science. The newly documented tridactyl tracks are consistent with the theory of #evolution. [Abrahams, M., and Bordy, E.M., 2023, The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa: PLoS ONE 18(11): e0293021]

Dec 7, 2023 · 6 likes · 1 share · 263 followers View post →
Bart Klink
@KlinkBart · X

Hoe creationist Jan van Meerten (@JanvanMeerten) paleontologisch onderzoek verkeerd weergeeft en daarmee een probleem ziet dat niet bestaat. Een draadje. Origineel artikel: https://t.co/iPTS4D5n4a, creationistische bespreking ervan: https://t.co/bEdZjPX31N. (1/)

Dec 7, 2023 · 4 likes · 959 followers View post →
The Reverend Prozac
@LowOnProzac · X

Neanderthals Hunted And Butchered Giant Elephants | 7 Days of Science (3... https://t.co/atu41PjUhA via @YouTube #Science #evolution #Archaeology #paleontology

Dec 6, 2023 · 1,204 followers View post →
Mazzy the MazdaTiger
@MazdaTiger · X

#7DOS proves that you can be silly and serious at the same time https://t.co/COmZj9oHC9

Dec 6, 2023 · 1 like · 210 followers View post →
kodiakbear
@kodiakbear1969 · X

Ben G Thomas https://t.co/hlSCG8AJoR

Dec 6, 2023 · 93 followers View post →
Nirmata
@En_formare · X

Abrahams M, Bordy EM (2023) The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa. PLoS ONE 18(11): e0293021. https://t.co/BSpN9D8EnT @PLOSONE https://t.co/wokUMqFSBu

Dec 5, 2023 · 455 followers View post →
Moacir Haverroth
@kotanh · X

https://t.co/JSkC4wr5Pi

Dec 4, 2023 · 2,425 followers View post →
CRCpaleos
@CRCpaleos · X

ARTÍCULO REFERENCIA (acceso abierto) The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/LWFSw9cydp vía @PLOSONE

Dec 3, 2023 · 1 like · 3,149 followers View post →
Sarkastik Observer ☭
@SiyaSindelo · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Dec 1, 2023 · 8 shares · 1,506 followers View post →
FeralKats~Vote Blue, Save WOMEN & Democracy!
@1feralkat · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Dec 1, 2023 · 8 shares · 11,719 followers View post →
Steakfou
@Steakfou · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Dec 1, 2023 · 8 shares · 41 followers View post →
Cameron Muskelly (Explorer of Deep Time)
@PaleoCameron · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Dec 1, 2023 · 8 shares · 11,839 followers View post →
/ɹɑb/
@RobertBorland7 · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Dec 1, 2023 · 8 shares · 956 followers View post →
Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa
@PalPSSA · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Dec 1, 2023 · 8 shares · 799 followers View post →
ไดโนเสาร์สายลับ
@saurianboy · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 30, 2023 · 10 shares · 988 followers View post →
Gary Ritchison
@GaryRitchison · X

The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/RXnVPYKU4v

Nov 30, 2023 · 324 followers View post →
Dr. Mhairi Reid
@Palaeoreid · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Nov 30, 2023 · 8 shares · 205 followers View post →
Curious Lion
@TauMerrily · X

RT @UCTgeology: Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. T…

Nov 30, 2023 · 8 shares · 1,438 followers View post →
UCT Geology
@UCTgeology · X

Check out Dr Abrahams and Prof Bordy's latest paper on the oldest bird-like footprints from the Late Triassic of Lesotho. These traces predate basal birds by ~60 million years! @GenusPalaeo @PalPSSA @SciSuperheroes #wedigfossils

Nov 30, 2023 · 16 likes · 8 shares · 390 followers View post →
Juan Yu See #FreePalestine
@Juanyudocus · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 30, 2023 · 10 shares · 1,684 followers View post →
piyawat
@piyawat · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 30, 2023 · 10 shares · 930 followers View post →
Dinagapostemon (Quintos)
@Dinagapostemon · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 30, 2023 · 10 shares · 9,371 followers View post →
Gabriel A. Martínez-Ruiz
@Gabriel21718501 · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 128 followers View post →
FossilFlex™
@FossilFlex · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 338 followers View post →
J. Malone
@JMaloneActs · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 1,048 followers View post →
Marcos K. Pinheiro / "Marcos Wyvern" (Marcosaurus)
@BongMarcosaurus · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 1,005 followers View post →
PaleoGalli
@TwitiGalli · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 1,718 followers View post →
魔神バアル @
@kaifang365 · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 688 followers View post →
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
@TomHoltzPaleo · X

#PLOSONE: The oldest fossil bird-like footprints from the upper Triassic of southern Africa https://t.co/bh9fDLz1MD

Nov 29, 2023 · 34 likes · 10 shares · 32,077 followers View post →
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