Scientists have debated the warm-bloodedness of dinosaurs for a long time. Now, a recent study reveals that researchers have successfully determined the body temperatures of two T. rex specimens using a chemical analysis method.
Aradhna Tripati, a professor and geochemist at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained the challenges involved in this research. Unlike taking a person’s temperature, sticking a thermometer into a T. rex was not an option since they became extinct around 66 million years ago.
To gauge the temperature of these ancient creatures, scientists utilized a technique that examines temperature-related chemical variations in hard tissues like tooth enamel and eggshells. By studying the bonding of carbon and oxygen atoms in a mineral called bioapatite, researchers could estimate the body temperature of extinct animals, including dinosaurs.
A previous study conducted by UCLA scientists a decade ago concluded that titanosaurs and oviraptors were warm-blooded based on the analysis of eggshells. This time, they focused on T. rex, particularly its thin tooth enamel, which posed a challenge in obtaining samples for analysis.
After refining their technique using megalodon teeth, the researchers were able to analyze tooth enamel from Thomas the T. rex and another unidentified specimen. The results indicated that T. rex had a body temperature ranging between 33.8 C and 38.8 C, similar to large mammals like elephants and ostriches, but lower than flying birds.
The findings suggest that a warm-blooded T. rex would have been adaptable to various environments, including the Arctic. This discovery has sparked discussions among paleontologists like Anthony Fiorillo, who acknowledged the compelling evidence presented in the study. The research sheds light on how dinosaurs, particularly tyrannosaurs, may have thrived in different climatic conditions.
François Therrien, a curator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, also emphasized the significance of these findings in understanding the metabolic traits and behaviors of dinosaurs. While the study provides insights into the activity patterns of T. rex, debates continue regarding the extent of their warm-blooded metabolism compared to modern mammals and birds.