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Gigantism and comparative life-history parameters of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs

Author

Listed:
  • Gregory M. Erickson

    (Florida State University
    American Museum of Natural History)

  • Peter J. Makovicky

    (The Field Museum)

  • Philip J. Currie

    (Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology)

  • Mark A. Norell

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Scott A. Yerby

    (Stanford University)

  • Christopher A. Brochu

    (University of Iowa)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory M. Erickson & Peter J. Makovicky & Philip J. Currie & Mark A. Norell & Scott A. Yerby & Christopher A. Brochu, 2004. "Gigantism and comparative life-history parameters of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs," Nature, Nature, vol. 430(7001), pages 772-775, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:430:y:2004:i:7001:d:10.1038_nature02699
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02699
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    Cited by:

    1. Nathan P Myhrvold, 2016. "Dinosaur Metabolism and the Allometry of Maximum Growth Rate," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-35, November.
    2. Eva Maria Griebeler & Jan Werner, 2018. "Formal comment on: Myhrvold (2016) Dinosaur metabolism and the allometry of maximum growth rate. PLoS ONE; 11(11): e0163205," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Frooman, Jeff, 2021. "Where MLM Intersects MFA: Morally Suspect Goods and the Grounds for Regulatory Action," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(1), pages 138-161, January.
    4. Nathan P Myhrvold, 2013. "Revisiting the Estimation of Dinosaur Growth Rates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-24, December.
    5. Eva Maria Griebeler & Nicole Klein & P Martin Sander, 2013. "Aging, Maturation and Growth of Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs as Deduced from Growth Curves Using Long Bone Histological Data: An Assessment of Methodological Constraints and Solutions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-17, June.

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