We’ve Been Wrong About T. Rex Since Jurassic Park: Scientists Say It Moved More Like an Ostrich Than a Giant Reptile

Key Points:

• A new biomechanical study published in Royal Society Open Science reveals that Tyrannosaurus rex walked with a digitigrade, toe-first gait similar to modern ostriches, rather than a flat-footed stance as traditionally depicted.
• The research used fossil measurements and footprint analysis to model foot strikes, concluding that T. rex landed on its toes with a spring-loaded step, improving energy return and stride efficiency.
• This revised foot posture increases estimated top speeds for adult T. rex to 11-25 miles per hour, suggesting juveniles were faster and adults more efficient than previously thought, though not as fast as Hollywood portrayals.
• The findings refine long-standing debates on T. rex locomotion by incorporating foot strike as a key factor, complementing previous studies on muscle constraints and biomechanics.
• The study prompts potential changes in museum displays, educational models, and media representations, while reinforcing the evolutionary link between theropods and modern birds.