T. Rex Ran on Its Tiptoes ‘Like an 8-Ton Chicken’
The New York Times • • science
Key Points:
- New research published in Royal Society Open Science reveals that Tyrannosaurus rex walked on its toes, similar to modern birds, challenging previous assumptions about its gait.
- The study, led by biomechanics student Adrian Boeye, suggests that T. rex used quick, short strides with its feet hitting the ground front-first, unlike earlier models that depicted heel-first stomping.
- This birdlike locomotion aligns with T. rex’s living relatives, terrestrial birds, which use similar foot placement and stride patterns to achieve efficient movement and high speeds.
- Paleontologist Steve Brusatte noted that this finding portrays T. rex as more birdlike in its movement, likening it to a large, heavy bird rather than a lumbering giant.
