Scientists have debated the warm-bloodedness of dinosaurs for a long time. Recently, researchers have utilized chemistry to gauge the temperature of two T. rex specimens. Aradhna Tripati, a professor and geochemist at the University of California, Los Angeles, admitted the challenges in this process. She co-authored a study published in the journal Science Advances and discussed the methodology in an interview with CBC’s Quirks & Quarks.
The traditional methods of measuring temperature in living creatures were not applicable to extinct dinosaurs like the T. rex. Therefore, scientists employed a unique technique that leverages chemical variations in hard tissues like tooth enamel and eggshells. These materials contain a mineral known as bioapatite, where carbon atoms bond with oxygen. By analyzing the isotopic composition in these tissues, scientists can estimate the body temperature of dinosaurs.
In a previous study, UCLA scientists examined eggshells from titanosaurs and oviraptors, concluding that they were warm-blooded. They also analyzed teeth from plant-eating dinosaurs like brachiosaurs with thick enamel. However, studying T. rex teeth presented challenges due to their thin enamel. After refining their technique using megalodon teeth, researchers successfully analyzed samples from Thomas the tyrannosaur, estimating its body temperature to be similar to large mammals like elephants.
Understanding the body temperature of T. rex sheds light on its behavior and habitat preferences. A warm-blooded T. rex could have inhabited diverse environments, including the Arctic, unlike cold-blooded reptiles. This finding has implications for the adaptation of dinosaurs in different regions. Paleontologist Anthony Fiorillo supported the study, emphasizing the insights it provides into dinosaur physiology and adaptation to extreme environments.
François Therrien, a curator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, analyzed troodon eggshells using isotope clumping and found them to be as warm-blooded as birds. While the study offers a more precise measure of T. rex’s body temperature, the debate continues regarding its metabolism compared to modern warm-blooded animals. The research suggests that T. rex was active throughout the day and night, enabling its widespread distribution from Mexico to Alaska.