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Let me re-phrase the question. Yes,
trackways provide 'estimates' or 'inferences' rather than
'determinations.'
But I have seen inferences on dinosaur speeds made
from the relative proportions of the limb bones. (And opposite conclusions
made when discussing the limbs of a rather famous large theropod). I have
also seen physics-based calculations used to infer speed limits based on ability
to survive a crash.
It seems to me that trackways, combined with
physics-based calculations (that to me seem just as well-founded as the above),
represent a step up in degree of confidence in the inferences one is able to
draw. After all, a track does provide a record a living animal;
and calibration of the calculations against living animals provides another
step.
Finally, it seems that a theropod as large as
Acrocanthosaurus running at a calculated 36 km/hr should have some relevance to
the question of how fast the large guys could run. Trackways showing
evidence of running are rare, not unexpectedly. I am only aware of these
2. I was just wondering if there were others, and when the same
calculations are used, give similar or higher values. I will
add a further question: what are the plus/minus values attached to these
equations? Even if the answer is a factor of 2, as shown in a figure from
Bakker in Dinosaurs Past & Present Vol 1(1987), would not this still be
useful?
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