The largest predator to walk the Earth, the Tyrannosaurus rex, took a lot longer to grow than we once thought. A recent study has shown that it might have taken T. rex about 35 to 40 years to reach full size. Researchers examined fossils to learn more about this dinosaur’s growth rate. They found that it matured much longer than earlier estimates suggested.
The study, published in PeerJ, analyzed thigh and shin bones from 17 T. rex specimens, providing the most extensive dataset on this dinosaur ever assembled. Scientists used polarized light to spot growth rings on the fossilized bones, revealing details that past studies missed. Holly Woodward, a professor of anatomy at Oklahoma State University and the lead author, said, “Examining the growth rings allowed us to reconstruct the animals’ year-by-year growth histories.”
This analysis revealed that T. rex continued growing for about four decades, ultimately reaching an impressive weight of around 8 tons. Nathan Myhrvold, a mathematician and paleobiologist involved in the study, noted that this new growth curve gives a clearer picture of how T. rex developed over time.
This slower growth rate might change how we think about T. rex‘s early years. Jack Horner, a researcher at Chapman University and co-author of the study, suggested that a lengthy growth phase could have allowed younger T. rex specimens to take on different ecological roles. This versatility might explain how they became dominant predators during the late Cretaceous Period.
Interestingly, earlier research estimated that T. rex lived for only about 30 years. The new findings, however, suggest a lifespan closer to 45 to 50 years. As scientists continue to study this incredible creature, they keep uncovering fascinating insights into its life.
For more in-depth information, you can check out the study in PeerJ or read more about this evolution in a Gizmodo article.
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