Researchers led by Randon J. Flores and Robert A. Eagle at the University of California, Los Angeles, have determined the body temperature of *Tyrannosaurus rex* by analyzing the carbonate minerals in its teeth. The analysis indicates a body temperature of approximately 36° Celsius, similar to that of a modern elephant.
For decades, the understanding of *T. rex* has evolved from a sluggish, cold-blooded reptile to a more active, bird-like animal. However, whether this activity was powered by warm blood remained uncertain. Previous attempts to determine *T. rex*'s temperature relied on oxygen isotopes in bones and teeth, but these were complicated by the unknown composition of the water within the animal’s body.
Flores, Eagle, and their team utilized clumped isotope thermometry, a technique Eagle introduced to dinosaur research over a decade ago. This method analyzes the bonding of heavy isotopes of carbon and oxygen (carbon-13 and oxygen-18) within tooth enamel. The frequency of these “clumped bonds” is directly related to the temperature at which the enamel formed, providing a body temperature reading independent of water content. The dental thermometer read about 36° Celsius, roughly the body temperature of a modern elephant.
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