Scientists have debated the warm-bloodedness of dinosaurs for a long time. Now, a new study claims to have used chemistry to gauge the body temperature of two T. rexes.
According to Aradhna Tripati, a professor and geochemist at the University of California, Los Angeles, the process was challenging. She co-authored the research recently published in the journal Science Advances and discussed it on CBC’s Quirks & Quarks before an interview with host Bob McDonald.
Taking the temperature of extinct animals is not as simple as using a thermometer. Researchers employed a chemical technique that detects temperature variations in hard tissues like tooth enamel and eggshells. This method involves analyzing the mineral bioapatite, where carbon atoms bond with oxygen. The level of “isotope clumping” in these materials can help estimate the body temperature of ancient creatures like dinosaurs.
Previous studies by UCLA scientists a decade ago suggested that titanosaurs and oviraptors were warm-blooded based on eggshell analysis. Additionally, teeth from plant-eating dinosaurs like brachiosaurs were examined for similar purposes.
To measure the body temperature of a T. rex, scientists had to analyze thin tooth enamel samples. By comparing the isotope clumping in the teeth of the T. rex specimens, researchers estimated their body temperature to be within a range similar to that of large mammals and flightless birds like ostriches. This finding sheds light on the potential behavior and habitat of these ancient predators.
The study’s implications extend to understanding how dinosaurs, particularly tyrannosaurs, adapted to different environments. This research aligns with past hypotheses about the warm-bloodedness of predators like T. rex, providing valuable insights into their evolutionary strategies and geographical distribution in regions like the Arctic.
