8 months ago

T. rex Grew Slower and Lived Longer Than Thought

T. rex Grew Slower and Lived Longer Than Thought
Study Reveals Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaur Grew Slower And Lived Longer Than Previously Thought · NDTV

Scientists have found out that the Tyrannosaurus rex, a famous dinosaur, grew more slowly and lived longer than we thought before.

They looked at the bones of 17 T. rex dinosaurs and saw special rings that show how fast they grew.

These rings are like tree rings and help scientists understand how old the dinosaurs were and how big they got.

Before, people thought T. rex grew to be very big by the time they were 25 years old and lived to be about 30.

But now, scientists think they grew bigger and slower, reaching full size around 35 to 40 years.

This means T. rex could hunt different kinds of food and grow very big, making them successful hunters.

The study also used special math to make the growth information more accurate.

This new information helps us understand dinosaurs better.

Key facts

Study Source
PeerJ
Lead Researcher
Holly Woodward
Number of Specimens Analyzed
17
Previous Estimated Adult Size
8 tons at 25 years
New Estimated Full Size Age
35 to 40 years
Fastest Growth Period
14 to 29 years
Annual Weight Gain During Fastest Growth
800 to 1,200 pounds

Quotes

Holly Woodward

Anatomy professor at Oklahoma State University and lead author of the study

“This study explains why T. rex was a successful peak hunter.”
NDTV

Sources

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