A true king of the Cretaceous, powerful, ferocious… the Tyrannosaurus rex was, without a doubt, the most powerful predator of the time. But this giant also had a surprisingly light step, according to what researchers say. According to the latter’s work, the T-Rex walked and ran, yes, but relying on its toes.
As these specialists indicate in a press release, we already know a lot about this star of prehistory, in particular because many fossils of the T-Rex have been unearthed, but we knew little about its way of moving. This is why a team from the College of the Atlantic was interested in the question.
These researchers began by taking precise measurements of the legs and paws of this dinosaur, before integrating this data into equations, just to estimate the speed of the T-Rex. The next step consisted of modeling three ways in which the legs of this species could touch the ground, that is to say, first placing the heel on the ground, the middle of the paw, or the toes.
And to determine which way of moving was most likely, the scientists compared these models to data collected using humans and ostriches.
Finally, the study authors also studied fossilized footprints to determine where dinosaurs placed their weight on the ground. The deepest marks were located under the toes, implying that tyrannosaurs walked on the fronts of their legs.
Moreover, by comparing their different models, the researchers discovered that moving in this way would have been the most effective method for moving quickly. This allowed dinosaurs to take more steps in less time, which would have paved the way for an increase in maximum speed of up to 20%. In contrast, a T-Rex moving by placing the soles of its paws on the ground would have been much slower, it is claimed in a press release.
Hunched giants
According to scientists, a moving tyrannosaurus could reach a speed of 5 to 11 meters per second, or approximately 15 to 30 km/h. We must therefore imagine a giant weighing around 10 tonnes, but which moves with a gait similar to that of the birds we know today.
Walking on tiptoes also affected how this dinosaur species managed its own weight. Humans tend to run with relatively tense steps, like a spring. In comparison, a T-Rex would have walked forward looking like it was hunched over, and needed to take several quick steps to maintain its balance.
By leaning on its toes, this dinosaur was then able to use its legs as shock absorbers, which would have helped the predator keep its balance, even on uneven terrain.
