It took 35 years for T. rex to become fully grown
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- A new study using polarized light on 17 Tyrannosaurus rex specimens reveals that T. rex grew more slowly and lived longer than previously thought, reaching its maximum size of around 8 tons at 35 to 40 years old rather than 25 years.
- Unlike earlier research that suggested T. rex stopped growing around 25 years and lived up to 30 years, this study shows growth ring spacing varied yearly, indicating flexible growth influenced by resource availability and environmental conditions.
- The findings suggest T. rex occupied multiple food niches throughout its life due to its prolonged growth period, which may have contributed to its success as an apex carnivore by reducing competition to mostly other T. rex individuals.
- Variations in growth curves
