Latest news with #Tyrannosaurusrex
National Geographic
14 hours ago
- Science
- National Geographic
Could T. rex swim? Kinda
Evidence suggests dinosaurs like tyrannosaurs were probably best suited to a version of the doggy paddle. Despite what's depicted in movies and books, the real Tyrannosaurus rex was likely an awkward swimmer at best. Illustration by Fotokita, Getty Images When Michael Crichton released the novel Jurassic Park in 1990, he included a terrifying chase through one of the park's ponds. Fictional paleontologist Alan Grant, looking after kids Lex and Tim, tries to sneak by a dozing Tyrannosaurus rex and motor across a lake away from the dinosaur. The T. rex follows, swimming after them like 'the biggest crocodile in the world.' The scene stood out so much that it's been revamped for the new movie Jurassic World: Rebirth. But while tyrannosaurs might swim in movies and books, could they swim in real life? Carnivorous dinosaurs are not generally thought of as good swimmers. During much of the 20th century, in fact, paleontologists wrongly assumed that herbivorous dinosaurs ran into rivers and lakes to avoid the jaws of T. rex, Allosaurus, and other predators. No one had found any direct evidence that such carnivores could swim. But the discovery of dinosaur swim tracks at fossil sites around the world have indicated that theropod dinosaurs—the group that contains T. rex, birds, and their relatives—were more aquatically adept than suspected and may have even done their own version of the doggy paddle. At one 200 million-year-old fossil site in southern Utah, paleontologists have found over 2,500 scratches and traces made by small carnivorous dinosaurs swimming across a Jurassic lake. Over 120 million years ago, a larger theropod dinosaur swam through the shallows in what's now La Rioja, Spain. Another fossil site found in La Rioja has even allowed paleontologists to begin distinguishing between different types of swimming traces left by theropods kicking through the water, indicating that swimming was not unusual for feathery, sharp-toothed dinosaurs. To date, no one has found swim traces from a tyrannosaur. Paleontologists have found some rare tyrannosaur footprints, but not direct evidence of swimming. Still, University College London paleontologist Cassius Morrison notes, today, 'the majority of animals can swim' even without specific aquatic adaptations, and the fossil evidence of other swimming theropods suggests that big tyrannosaurs could, too. The question is how they would have done it. (Could dinosaurs swim? This fossil revives an age-old debate.) What did tyrannosaur swimming look like? Mature T. rex were very large animals. The biggest reached more than 40 feet in length and weighed over nine tons. Hefty as that is, however, nine tons is relatively light for such a big animal. The secret is that tyrannosaurs, like many dinosaurs, had a complex system of air sacs that branched out from its respiratory system and infiltrated the dinosaur's bones, just like in birds today. The air sacs allowed the dinosaur to be a little lighter without sacrificing strength, allowed the animal to breathe more efficiently, and, in the water, to float a little more easily. Magazine for all ages starting at $25/year The effects of dinosaur air sacs on swimming ability has been underscored by the bones of another giant carnivore and Jurassic Park alum—the croc-snouted, sail-backed Spinosaurus. While researchers debate how much time the paddle-tailed dinosaur spent in the water, fossil evidence suggests it had extra-dense bones. These heavier bones helped the dinosaur avoid being too buoyant, so that it could more easily use its muscle power to move through the water rather than actively working to stay submerged like we do when we go under water with lungs full of air. (Read more about Spinosaurus' penguin-like bones.) Spinosaurus had a skeleton adapted to dealing with the buoyancy of the air sacs, but other dinosaurs without such dense bones would have only been capable of a more unstable doggy paddle. Giant long-necked dinosaurs, for example, have been described as 'tipsy punters' that were relatively unstable in the water and could kick off the bottom but not swim the way a crocodile does. For the same reason, T. rex probably wouldn't be able to completely disappear beneath a lake's surface and burst out with open jaws, like in the movies. And even though the dinosaur's arms were too small and lacked the range of motion for a swim stroke, the same is true of many other carnivorous dinosaurs that left swim traces behind. The emerging picture is that T. rex was probably a strong, if unsteady, swimmer. The available evidence hints that a swimming T. rex would float near the surface of a body of water, using its powerful legs to kick along to cross. Did T. rex stalk prey in the water? T. rex's swimming abilities would have inevitably shaped its hunting strategy. In 2023, University of the Republic of Uruguay paleontologist R. Ernesto Blanco modeled how quickly T. rex could move through the water. He proposed that the tyrant lizard would have been too slow to catch prey like the duckbill Edmontosaurus and the ostrich-like Struthiomimus on dry land but could move faster while wading or swimming in shallow water. 'Depending on the water depth, T. rex would have different ways of propulsion,' Blanco says. In deep enough water, T. rex could have swum with most of its body under the surface, but more often the dinosaur likely waded or 'punted' off the bottom as the swim traces of other theropods indicate. Perhaps, Blanco suggested, T. rex preferred to hunt along shorelines where herbivores trying to escape in the water would have been slowed down and more vulnerable. Other experts are not yet convinced that T. rex preferred hunting and feeding along shorelines. The bulk of the evidence so far points to the reptiles ambushing prey on land and breaking any carcasses it could find down into splinters with its impressive jaw strength. Finding swim traces, tyrannosaur poop with aquatic animal remains, or other fossil evidence could help test the idea further. Nevertheless, splashing around in the water seems within the range of what T. rex could do during its Cretaceous days. Swimming—even awkwardly—was a useful ability in ancient lowland habitats that likely resembled the wetlands and swamps along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico today. Being able to cross such waterways and wet habitats would have been advantageous to big tyrannosaurs, and it's likely the dinosaurs did so at times. 'With current evidence available to us,' Morrison says, 'I would suggest that swimming may have been a way for Tyrannosaurus to navigate its environment.' The answer to why T. rex crossed the lake, in other words, may have been that lunch was on the other side.
France 24
2 days ago
- Science
- France 24
The Bright Side: Runners in T-rex costumes turn US racecourse into prehistoric playground
Spectators cheered as participants ran down the track cloaked in inflatable Tyrannosaurus rex costumes during the T-Rex World Championship Races at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. The Sunday event started in 2017 as a pest control company's team-building activity. The actual dinosaur roamed the planet between 65 million and 67 million years ago. A study published four years ago in the journal Science estimated about 2.5 billion of the dinosaurs roamed Earth over the course of a couple million years. Hollywood movies such as the 'Jurassic Park' franchise have added to the public fascination with the ancient carnivorous creature.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
Photo highlights from T-Rex World Championship Races
AUBURN, Wash. (AP) — Spectators cheered as participants ran down the track cloaked in inflatable Tyrannosaurus rex costumes during the T-Rex World Championship Races at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. The Sunday event started in 2017 as a pest control company's team-building activity. The actual dinosaur roamed the planet between 65 million and 67 million years ago. A study published four years ago in the journal Science estimated about 2.5 billion of the dinosaurs roamed Earth over the course of a couple million years. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
10 birds from the time of dinosaurs and how they looked like
The article explores the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and modern birds, highlighting various bird-like creatures from the Mesozoic Era. Fossils reveal a mix of reptilian and avian traits in these early birds, showcasing the gradual development of flight. These ancient species, though now extinct, provide crucial insights into avian evolution and the origins of modern birds. When we think of dinosaurs, massive creatures like Tyrannosaurus rex or Triceratops come to mind. But what many don't realize is that modern birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs. In fact, some bird-like creatures lived alongside the giant reptiles of the Mesozoic Era. These early birds were part of an interesting evolutionary journey, gradually shifting from reptilian ancestors to the feathered friends we know today. Fossils from millions of years ago reveal that bird-like dinosaurs and early birds coexisted, with many of them showing a mix of traits, like feathers, wings, claws, and teeth. Some could glide, others may have just flapped, and most of those avian ancestors looked far more bizarre than any bird we see now. Though they're extinct, these ancient birds left behind clues that have helped scientists understand how flight evolved and how birds became what they are today. Here are 10 bird species from the age of dinosaurs Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx lived around 150 million years ago and is often called the first true bird. It had feathered wings like modern birds but also sharp teeth, claws on its wings, and a long, bony tail, clear signs of being dinosaur ancestors. Confuciusornis Confuciusornis appeared around 125 million years ago in China. It had a beak with no teeth and long tail feathers, probably for display. Though it resembled modern birds, it still had clawed fingers and likely wasn't a strong flier. Ichthyornis Living about 90 million years ago, Ichthyornis looked a lot like today's seabirds but with one key difference that it had sharp teeth. Its strong wings and sleek body suggest it was a skilled flier, likely hunting fish by diving into waters from the air. Hesperornis Hesperornis lived in the Late Cretaceous and was more like a prehistoric penguin. It couldn't fly but was an excellent swimmer, using its strong legs and teeth-filled jaws to catch fish in the seas of ancient North America. Jeholornis Jeholornis, from around 120 million years ago, had a long, feathered tail and teeth in its beak. Though it had wings, it probably didn't fly well. It may have used its feathers more for gliding or display than for a stable flight. Rahonavis Rahonavis was a small, feathered creature from Madagascar that lived about 70 million years ago. Though it was tiny, it had strong legs and arms with claws, suggesting it may have been flexible and comfortable in trees and possibly capable of powered flight. Sapeornis Sapeornis lived about 125 million years ago and had a mix of bird and dinosaur traits. It had long wings and could glide or fly short distances. With claws on its wings and a primitive tail, it looked like a bird in making. Enantiornithes This entire group of birds survived during the Cretaceous period but went extinct with the dinosaurs. They had teeth, clawed wings, and varied in size and shape. They were widespread and successful, but no direct descendants survive today. Anchiornis Anchiornis had feathers and wings but wasn't quite a bird. It lived about 160 million years ago and had four feathered limbs both arms and legs, which could be a hint at an early stage in the evolution of flight. It likely glided more than flew. Patagopteryx Patagopteryx lived around 80 million years ago and was completely flightless. About the size of a chicken, it had strong legs for running and small wings that couldn't support flight. It's one of the earliest examples of a bird that adapted to life on the ground.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Life-Sized Dinosaurs Overtake the Gardens and Trails of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Beasts are Back! 14 All-New Animatronic Dinosaurs Roam the Grounds of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center through August 17th A sense of scale. Austin, Texas, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fourteen life-sized and life-like animatronic dinosaurs are lurking in the gardens and trails of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center again this summer. Last year's Dinosaurs Around the World exhibition was so popular that the Wildflower Center is bringing in a new Dinos in the Wild exhibit conceptualized and created by Dino Don Lessem, world authority on dinosaurs, advisor to Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, author of multiple books and dinosaur excavator. The dinos are life-size, make noise and scientifically accurate. The limited-time outdoor exhibition features 10 different scenes and 14 different specimens, representing a variety of species from large to small, and including impressive dinosaurs like the ferocious and famed Tyrannosaurus rex, the cute and colorful Parasaurolophus and the fierce and horned Triceratops, among others. This family-friendly immersive exhibit appeals to dinosaur lovers of all ages and launches just in time for summer break and will last throughout summer. 'We're excited to welcome these prehistoric beasts to the Wildflower Center to spend the whole summer with us,' said Lee Clippard, Executive Director of the Wildflower Center. 'It's fun to see our native gardens come to life with amazing creatures that inhabited the planet millions of years ago.' The gardens and trails of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are currently open for Summer Hours, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, and the exhibit is included with entry to the Center. #### For press inquiries, contact Scott Simons, Director of Marketing and Communications. Photos and videos: Click to View and Download About The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is the State Botanic Garden & Arboretum of Texas and welcomes more than 275,000 guests annually to its 284 acres of gardens, trails and exhibitions, thus fulfilling its mission of inspiring the conservation of native plants. As a fully self-funded unit of The University of Texas at Austin, the Wildflower Center's investments in science, conservation and education include a native seed bank, a comprehensive database of North American native plants, and research programs in collaboration with the University. The Center is the embodiment of Mrs. Johnson's environmental legacy. 'The environment is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest,' she said. 'It is the one thing all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become.' Attachment A sense of scale. CONTACT: Scott Simons Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center ssimons@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
