London: A new study suggests that the weight and length of the “king of dinosaurs” could be 70% more and 25% more than previously estimated, respectively.
According to the research, the largest T-Rex that could have existed might have been significantly larger than the biggest known specimen, potentially weighing around 15 tons instead of 8.8 tons and measuring 15 meters instead of 12 meters.
Many of the largest dinosaurs in different groups are known from just a single good fossil specimen.
Therefore, it is impossible to determine if that single specimen represents a large or small example of its species.
Researchers argue that debating which dinosaur was the largest based on a handful of fossils is not very meaningful.
In the latest study, Dr. Jordan Mallon from the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa and Dr. David Hone from Queen Mary University of London used computer modeling to examine the population of T-Rex.
The study considered factors such as population size, growth rates, lifespan, and the incomplete fossil record.
Dr. Mallon stated that the research shows that for large fossil animals like T-Rex, we have no idea from the fossil record how large they could get.
He added that thinking about a 15-ton T-Rex is intriguing, but the biomechanical or ecological implications are also fascinating.