Researchers at UCLA have determined that Tyrannosaurus rex maintained a body temperature of approximately 97 degrees Fahrenheit, providing direct evidence the dinosaur was warm-blooded. The finding, based on chemical analysis of fossilized teeth from a specimen named Thomas at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, supports the theory that T. rex was an active predator capable of surviving in colder climates.
The UCLA team, led by researchers who developed a method for estimating body temperature from fossilized skeletal material a decade ago, initially faced challenges due to the amount of material required for testing. Over the past ten years, they refined the technique, reducing the necessary sample size by roughly 90%, which allowed the Natural History Museum to contribute tiny portions of two teeth from Thomas the T. rex.
The results, published September 16 in *Science Advances*, indicate a body temperature remarkably close to that of humans. This supports the idea that T. rex had a relatively fast metabolism and wasn’t a sluggish reptile dependent on external heat sources. The dinosaur’s ability to regulate its internal temperature may explain its survival in colder regions like Alaska. As stated in the study, this is the first actual temperature measurement for the animal.
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