Scientists have debated the warmth of dinosaurs for a long time. Recently, researchers claim they have utilized chemistry to gauge the body temperature of two T. rexes. Aradhna Tripati, a professor and geochemist at the University of California, Los Angeles, admitted that the process was challenging. She co-authored the study published in the journal Science Advances and discussed it on CBC’s Quirks & Quarks with host Bob McDonald.
To measure the body temperature of extinct animals, scientists employed a chemical technique that records variations in certain hard tissues like tooth enamel and eggshells. These tissues contain bioapatite, a mineral where carbon atoms bond with oxygen. By analyzing the “isotope clumping” in living animals with differing body temperatures, researchers can estimate the body temperature of extinct creatures, including dinosaurs.
A decade ago, UCLA scientists used eggshells from titanosaurs and oviraptors to conclude that they were warm-blooded. They also examined teeth from plant-eating dinosaurs like brachiosaurs, known for their thick enamel. However, obtaining enough tooth enamel from tyrannosaurs was challenging due to their thin tooth enamel.
The researchers refined their technique using megalodon teeth before obtaining tooth enamel from a T. rex named Thomas. Through analyzing three teeth, they estimated T. rex’s body temperature to be between 33.8°C and 38.8°C, akin to large mammals and possibly flightless birds like ostriches. This revelation sheds light on the behavior and habitat of T. rex, indicating it could have lived in various environments, including the Arctic.
Paleontologist Anthony Fiorillo, who discovered a tiny tyrannosaur in Alaska, lauded the study’s findings, suggesting it provides insight into how dinosaurs adapted to life in colder regions. François Therrien, curator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, emphasized that the warm body temperature of T. rex implies it was active day and night, even in winter. However, the debate continues on whether T. rex had a metabolism akin to modern warm-blooded animals.