New Paleontological Factoid

[mothcorrupteth]

Air con before it was cool: Scientists solve mystery of holes in T. rex’s skull

The article is a little bit inaccurate (as can be expected with journalists). It implies we are uncertain T-rex was warm-blooded, whereas we are about as certain as we could possibly be.

Also, it kind of implies that all diapsid skulls would have evolved the second fenestra exclusively for the purposes of thermoregulation. We know from many contemporary diapsids, including alligators and other living archosaurs, that the superior fenestra (the hole higher up in the skull) serves as an anchor point for jaw muscles, so the two aren't mutually exclusive. It may be that the fenestra initially evolved for one function or the other and then took on a second function, but they certainly seem to serve both functions in contemporary archosaurs.

 

[loveofourlord]

Air con before it was cool: Scientists solve mystery of holes in T. rex’s skull

The article is a little bit inaccurate (as can be expected with journalists). It implies we are uncertain T-rex was warm-blooded, whereas we are about as certain as we could possibly be.

Also, it kind of implies that all diapsid skulls would have evolved the second fenestra exclusively for the purposes of thermoregulation. We know from many contemporary diapsids, including alligators and other living archosaurs, that the superior fenestra (the hole higher up in the skull) serves as an anchor point for jaw muscles, so the two aren't mutually exclusive. It may be that the fenestra initially evolved for one function or the other and then took on a second function, but they certainly seem to serve both functions in contemporary archosaurs.

well I know that sauropods were not fully warm blooded, but some where between, due to their body size, so it's possible t-rexes were there too.