Journal article
Gigantism and comparative life-history parameters of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs
Nature (London), Vol.430(7001), pp.772-775
08/12/2004
DOI: 10.1038/nature02699
PMID: 15306807
Abstract
How evolutionary changes in body size are brought about by variance in developmental timing and/or growth rates (also known as heterochrony) is a topic of considerable interest in evolutionary biology1. In particular, extreme size change leading to gigantism occurred within the dinosaurs on multiple occasions2. Whether this change was brought about by accelerated growth, delayed maturity or a combination of both processes is unknown. A better understanding of relationships between non-avian dinosaur groups and the newfound capacity to reconstruct their growth curves make it possible to address these questions quantitatively3. Here we study growth patterns within the Tyrannosauridae, the best known group of large carnivorous dinosaurs, and determine the developmental means by which Tyrannosaurus rex, weighing 5,000 kg and more, grew to be one of the most enormous terrestrial carnivorous animals ever. T. rex had a maximal growth rate of 2.1 kg d-1, reached skeletal maturity in two decades and lived for up to 28 years. T. rex's great stature was primarily attained by accelerating growth rates beyond that of its closest relatives.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Gigantism and comparative life-history parameters of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs
- Creators
- Gregory M Erickson - Florida State UniversityPeter J Makovicky - Department of Geology, The Field Museum, Chicago, USAPhilip John Currie - Royal Tyrrell MuseumMark A Norell - American Museum of Natural HistoryScott A Yerby - Stanford UniversityChristopher A Brochu - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Nature (London), Vol.430(7001), pp.772-775
- DOI
- 10.1038/nature02699
- PMID
- 15306807
- NLM abbreviation
- Nature
- ISSN
- 0028-0836
- eISSN
- 1476-4687
- Publisher
- Macmillan Journals
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/12/2004
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9984229305202771
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