Metabolism of dinosaurs as determined from their growth

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2015 Sep;92(3):032706. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.032706. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Abstract

A model based on cellular properties is used to analyze the mass growth curves of 20 dinosaurs. This analysis yields the first measurement of the average cellular metabolism of dinosaurs. The organismal metabolism is also determined. The cellular metabolism of dinosaurs is found to decrease with mass at a slower rate than is observed in extant animals. The organismal metabolism increases with the mass of the dinosaur. These results come from both the Saurischia and Ornithischia branches of Dinosauria, suggesting that the observed metabolic features were common to all dinosaurs. The results from dinosaurs are compared to data from extant placental and marsupial mammals, a monotreme, and altricial and precocial birds, reptiles, and fish. Dinosaurs had cellular and organismal metabolisms in the range observed in extant mesotherms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dinosaurs / anatomy & histology
  • Dinosaurs / growth & development*
  • Dinosaurs / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Species Specificity