Once more, scientists have second thoughts about Tyrannosaurus Rex. 2024

A group of global specialists has reshaped our understanding of dinosaur intelligence by questioning long-held beliefs and providing a new angle on the cognitive capacities of T. rex and other extinct species.

Intelligent dinosaurs: Not quite monkey-like

The research team reexamined the size and structure of dinosaur brains and came to the conclusion that these animals behaved more like lizards and crocodiles. This finding contradicted a prior study that suggested dinosaurs, such as T. rex, had a significantly larger brain than previously thought and were significantly more intelligent.
The earlier research had hypothesized that Tyrannosaurus rex would have exhibited cognitive characteristics including tool use and cultural knowledge transmission, and that these high neuron counts could provide direct information on intelligence, metabolism, and life history.

The latest study, however, revealed that the earlier hypotheses were incorrect after closely examining the methods used to estimate the size of dinosaur brains and the number of neurons within them.

Overestimated neuronal density and size in the brain

The scientists found that overestimation of dinosaur brain size, particularly forebrain size, resulted in inflated neuron counts. Additionally, they demonstrated that estimates of neuron counts are not a valid predictor of intelligence.

“We argue that it’s not good practice to predict intelligence in extinct species when neuron counts reconstructed from endocasts are all we have to go on,” Dr. Kai Caspar of Heinrich Heine University clarified.

It takes multiple lines of proof.

The team contends that researchers should consider a variety of evidence sources, such as skeletal structure, bone histology, the behavior of living relatives, and trace fossils, in order to reliably reconstruct the biology of long-extinct species.
Hady of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences said, “Determining the intelligence of dinosaurs and other extinct animals is best done using many lines of evidence ranging from gross anatomy to fossil footprints instead of relying on neuron number estimates alone.”

Baboons are more intellectual than Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The notion that T. rex could have possessed baboon-like intelligence could fundamentally alter our understanding of the past. The analysis, however, demonstrates that the entirety of the data refutes this theory.

“They were more like smart giant crocodiles, and that’s just as fascinating,” said Dr. Darren Naish in closing.
Furthermore, Dr. Ornella Bertrand of the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont stated, “Neuron counts are not good predictors of cognitive performance, and using them to predict intelligence in long-extinct species can lead to highly misleading interpretations.”

Reevaluating the degree of T. rex and other dinosaur intelligence

In essence, the idea that dinosaurs had intelligence akin to that of primates, as proposed by earlier studies, is called into question by this new study.

The multinational team of experts discovered that prior hypotheses on the size and number of neurons in dinosaur brains were incorrect, which resulted in an overestimation of the animals’ cognitive capacities.

In order to accurately determine the intelligence of extinct species, the scientists stress the significance of taking into account a variety of lines of evidence, including skeletal morphology, bone histology, the behavior of living relatives, and trace fossils.

The study offers an interesting new perspective on these extinct animals by concluding that dinosaurs, including T. rex, were more like intelligent gigantic crocodiles than highly conscious primates.

Additional information on Tyrannosaurus rex

As was previously said, Tyrannosaurus rex, or T. rex, was one of the biggest and most terrifying carnivores to have ever lived on Earth. This enormous theropod dinosaur lived between 68 and 66 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period.

Individuals of the T. rex species that were adults may grow up to 40 feet (12.3 meters) in length and 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height at the hips. Its weight ranges from 5.5 to 9 tons (5,000 to 8,000 kilograms), placing it among the largest terrestrial predators ever discovered.

T. rex’s strong jaws and teeth

The jaws of the Tyrannosaurus rex were extraordinarily strong and could accommodate up to sixty large, pointed teeth. With the help of these teeth, which could reach lengths of up to 12 inches (30 cm), T. rex was able to rip and tear through its prey’s flesh and bones.

With an estimated weight of 12,800 pounds (5,800 kg), the T. rex had one of the strongest recorded bite forces of any known terrestrial animal.

Thumbs up for T. rex

Tyrannosaurus rex was a big dinosaur, yet its excellent senses allowed it to hunt efficiently. Its forward-facing eyes allowed for exceptional binocular vision and depth awareness.

The presence of a sizable olfactory bulb in T. rex’s brain indicates that it had a highly developed sense of smell. T. rex was a deadly predator thanks to its strong jaws and teeth in addition to its sensory adaptations.

Tyrannosaurus rex movement and velocity

Although the Tyrannosaurus rex was clearly a formidable predator, paleontologists disagree about how fast it could sprint.

According to recent research, T. rex was probably capable of running at around 17 miles per hour (27 kilometers per hour) and walking at a maximum pace of about 12 miles per hour (19 kilometers per hour). Although slower than originally believed, this is still faster than the majority of its possible victims.

fossils of Tyrannosaurus Rex and their discovery
Barnum Brown found the first Tyrannosaurus rex fossil in Montana, USA, in 1902. The T. rex is currently one of the most well-known dinosaurs, with over 50 specimens having been identified since its discovery.

Nicknamed “Sue,” the most complete T. rex skeleton was found in South Dakota in 1990 and is currently on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.

Scientific research and popular imagination are still sparked by Tyrannosaurus Rex. Our knowledge of this amazing animal is expanding thanks to the discovery of new fossils and technological advancements, which also provide insights into its behavior, biology, and place in the prehistoric ecosystems of the Cretaceous period.

Dr. Kai Caspar of Heinrich Heine University, Dr. Darren Naish of the University of Southampton, Dr. Hady George of the University of Bristol, Dr. Grant Hurlburt of the Royal Ontario Museum, and Dr. Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez of the University of Alberta spearheaded this research.

Scientists change their minds about Tyrannosaurus rex yet again (msn.com)