Science
Isotope study indicates Tyrannosaurus rex had body temperature similar to modern elephant
Researchers measured T. rex dental isotopes at 36 degrees Celsius, according to Ars Technica.
The short version
- UCLA geochemists analyzed T. rex fossil teeth to estimate the dinosaur's body temperature at approximately 36° Celsius.[Ars Technica]
- The finding places T. rex within a thermal range similar to modern elephants.[Ars Technica]
- The dental thermometry research aims to help resolve long-standing debates over whether dinosaurs generated their own body heat like birds and mammals.[Ars Technica]
Key facts
- A team led by UCLA geochemists Randon J. Flores and Robert A. Eagle measured T. rex body temperature using tooth isotope analysis.[Ars Technica]
- The dental analysis yielded an estimated body temperature of roughly 36° Celsius, comparable to an elephant.[Ars Technica]
- Paleontologists previously relied on indirect indicators like bone microstructure, fossil distribution, and growth rates to study dinosaur thermal biology.[Ars Technica]
What remains uncertain
- It remains disputed whether all dinosaur lineages shared endothermic traits or employed varied thermal strategies.[Ars Technica]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.