A remarkable discovery by Italian climbers has unearthed evidence of a prehistoric stampede attributed to sea turtles, believed to have taken place 80 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous. The findings, reported in the journal Cretaceous Research and shared by the web portal LiveScience, originate from a limestone layer known as Scaglia Rossa, long studied for its geological features. According to preliminary research, the turtles were likely fleeing from the effects of a significant earthquake, which subsequently caused an underwater avalanche that preserved their traces in the stone.

Typically, animal tracks are erased by marine currents and various organisms like worms and clams, but the specific conditions created by the earthquake resulted in the unique preservation of these shallow marks. This event provides crucial insights into the behavior of marine life during the Cretaceous period. Notably, the only vertebrates capable of leaving such impressions during this time were sea turtles, along with plesiosaurs and mosasaurs, indicating a coordinated escape response to the environmental stress caused by seismic activity.

The implications of this discovery extend beyond mere curiosity; it sheds light on the ecological dynamics of the Cretaceous era and the impacts of geological phenomena on prehistoric life. As scientific studies continue, this find could contribute to a better understanding of ancient marine ecosystems and the evolution of marine reptiles, as it illustrates their physical interactions with their environment during critical geological changes.