Could Tyrannosaurus rex have been warm-blooded? Scientists have finally measured the body temperature of the King of the Dinosaurs! 🦖🌡️
A new study published in Science Advances has revealed that T. rex maintained an estimated body temperature of 36.3°C (97.3°F) — comparable to the body temperatures of some modern mammals!
But how did scientists figure this out from fossils that are approximately 66 million years old?
The answer lies in T. rex’s teeth!
Researchers used a technique called clumped-isotope thermometry to analyze the chemical composition of fossilized tooth enamel. By examining three T. rex teeth from the Hell Creek Formation, they estimated an average body temperature of 36.3 ± 2.5°C.
The researchers also examined fossil crocodilian teeth from the same geological formation and found significantly lower average temperatures in those animals.
So, does this finally prove that T. rex was warm-blooded? And what could this mean for its metabolism, activity levels, and ability to live in colder environments?
In this episode, we’re exploring the new research and what it reveals about the physiology of the King of the Dinosaurs!
🦖 How scientists measured T. rex body temperature
🌡️ Why the estimated temperature is so important
🦷 How fossilized teeth preserve chemical evidence
🐊 How T. rex compared with ancient crocodilians
❄️ What this could mean for T. rex living in colder climates
🔬 What this discovery tells us about dinosaur physiology
📄 READ THE SCIENTIFIC PAPER:
Flores, R. J., Eagle, R. A., Trayler, R. B., et al. (2026).
“The body temperature of Tyrannosaurus rex.”
Science Advances, 12(38), eaeb7653.
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeb7653
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And as always…
LET’S GET PREHISTORIC! 🦖