AI Generated Image
Tooth analysis confirms T. rex was warm-blooded
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- A new study published in Science Advances provides the first direct estimate of Tyrannosaurus rex’s body temperature, finding it to be about 97°F (36°C), similar to humans and indicative of warm-bloodedness.
- Researchers used chemical analysis of isotopic bonds in fossilized tooth enamel from a T. rex specimen to determine the temperature at which the enamel formed, revealing the dinosaur maintained a high, regulated body temperature.
- This warm body temperature supports the idea that T. rex was an active predator with a fast metabolism capable of surviving in cold climates, such as the Arctic regions of ancient North America.
- The findings place T. rex’s physiology between modern reptiles and birds, suggesting it was hotter than reptiles but cooler than modern avians, which may influence new hypotheses about its behavior and ecology.
- The technique used could be applied to other extinct species to better understand the evolution of warm-bloodedness across different lineages, including early mammals.
