fossil

Footprints made tens of thousands of years ago may look like they’ve been erased by time and weather, but — like invisible ink — they can sometimes reappear under the right conditions.

Marine reptiles called Ichthyosaurs existed millions of years ago within a vast ocean that surrounded the supercontinent known as Pangea. They had streamlined bodies adapted for swift movement in aquatic environments.

The fossil was uncovered during recent excavation work at the Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse near the South Rim as part of the Transcanyon Waterline project. It's been identified as a Equisetalean strobilus.