T. Rex May Have Lived to 40, New Research Suggests
New research is reshaping long-held assumptions about Tyrannosaurus rex, including suggestions that the giant predator may have lived to around 40 years rather than 28, while advances in fossil analysis are also offering new clues about dinosaur growth, posture and even color. (News On Japan)
Recent research is challenging long-held beliefs about the lifespan of the Tyrannosaurus rex, suggesting it may have lived to around 40 years rather than the previously estimated 28. Makoto Manabe, a paleontologist leading the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, explained these findings while displaying the museum's full-body Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops skeletons and genuine fossils.
Manabe noted that the pose of the Tyrannosaurus crouching near the Triceratops demonstrates one possible hunting method, with the predator potentially waiting in ambush for prey instead of constantly chasing it. The Triceratops skeleton on display, made mostly of genuine fossils, has provided valuable insights into the dinosaur's proportions and posture.
Earlier reconstructions often showed the Triceratops' elbows projecting outward, but recent interpretations suggest the animal could have held its forelimbs differently, keeping its elbows closer to its body. The study of dinosaur growth has also advanced through analyzing microscopic structures inside fossilized bones, such as the femur.
These bone structures can reveal information about an animal's age and growth history, and recent findings suggest Tyrannosaurus rex experienced a major growth phase around 12 to 15 years old, leading to a lifespan of up to 40 years. While the color of Tyrannosaurus rex remains unknown, recent research has shown that colors can sometimes be identified in exceptional fossil preservation, offering hope for future discoveries.
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