An analysis of growth rings in the leg bones of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex individuals reveals that the dinosaurs matured much more slowly than previously thought, and adds to the evidence that they weren't all one species
fossils suggests the giant and fierce Cretaceous predator was a late bloomer, taking 35 to 40 years to reach maturity.reached its maximum weight of 8 tonnes in around two decades and that the animals probably only lived until they were 30 years old.
at Oklahoma State University. “This wasn’t the fault of the researchers, this is just what was available at the time.” This time, Ballard and her colleagues were able to sample the thigh and shin bones of 17 individuals, ranging in age from juvenile to fully-grown adults, making it the largest collection of growth data ever assembled onThe scientists studied bone tissue microstructure, including growth rings that form annually like those in a tree trunk. However, the earliest growth rings are destroyed as the bone marrow cavity gets larger, so the team needed access to as many specimens as possible with overlapping growth stages. “That’s why our sample size and age spread is so important and what makes it different from earlier studies,” says Ballard. grew more slowly than previously thought and that its growth rate was variable depending on environmental conditions.lived to about 40, but there were very few that made it to that age – only two specimens in our sample had reached adult size,” says Ballard. Another two of the specimens grew more slowly than the others, opening the possibility that they may be other species, such ascomplex”, says Ballard. “We propose, based on their growth differences, they are either a different species, or perhaps they are sick or injured, published last year, concluded that the specimen was a small tyrannosaur that was fully grown at about 20 years old, tentatively namedthat we can feel confident in,” says Zanno. “It’s also thrilling to see yet another study validate our work onshould be split into different species, but he anticipates that the study will have broad ramifications for dinosaur researchers. “I expect that the estimates of growth curves of other dinosaurs will now have to be revisited,” says Carr. “Overall, we’ll see a shift in our understanding of dinosaur development across the board.” Embark on an exhilarating and one-of-a-kind expedition to uncover dinosaur remains in the vast wilderness of the Gobi desert, one of the world’s most famous palaeontological hotspots.
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