Theropods Evolved Different Cooling Strategies (VIDEO)
Caption
Recent research by Porter & Witmer has shown that different dinosaur groups had different thermal physiological strategies to help moderate brain temperatures in the face of high heat loads. The predatory theropod dinosaurs, such as T. rex, Allosaurus, and Majungasaurus evolved a brain-cooling strategy involving a highly vascular air sinus in the snout through which air was pumped by movements of the jaws. This video was generated by Ryan Ridgely in WitmerLab and shows the bellows-pump-like action of the jaws to move air in and out of the air sinus. Blood surrounding the sinus would have been cooled and directed to the brain to help moderate temperatures.
Credit
Courtesy of WitmerLab at Ohio University.
Usage Restrictions
With credit to WitmerLab at Ohio University
License
Licensed content