Animal tracks are a common sight in nature, but how they are formed has long been a mystery. Now, thanks to a team of researchers from the University of Cambridge, we finally have a better understanding of this process.

The researchers used X-ray video to capture the movements of guineafowl as they walked through poppy seeds. This allowed them to create a 3-D model of how the tracks were formed.

The model revealed that the guineafowl's feet acted like a series of shovels, scooping up the poppy seeds and pushing them to the sides. This created the characteristic V-shaped tracks that are often seen in nature.

The researchers say that their findings could have implications for paleontology, as they provide a better understanding of how animal tracks are formed. This could help scientists to identify the tracks of extinct animals and learn more about their behavior.

The study was published in the journal "Current Biology."

Here is a summary of the study:

* Researchers used X-ray video to capture the movements of guineafowl as they walked through poppy seeds.

* This allowed them to create a 3-D model of how the tracks were formed.

* The model revealed that the guineafowl's feet acted like a series of shovels, scooping up the poppy seeds and pushing them to the sides.

* This created the characteristic V-shaped tracks that are often seen in nature.

* The researchers say that their findings could have implications for paleontology, as they provide a better understanding of how animal tracks are formed.