T. Rex Not as Intelligent as We Once Believed

Although we prefer not to speak negatively about extinct creatures, recent physiological analysis suggests that the Tyrannosaurus rex, once thought to be highly intelligent, may not have been as clever as previously believed. This challenges earlier research from last year that compared the brain and neuronal structure of the T. rex to that of a primate.

The past year or two have been challenging for the long-extinct dinosaur. Initially, there were doubts about their teeth, suggesting that the famous sharp teeth might have been smaller and concealed behind lips.

Now, an international team of paleontologists, behavioral scientists, and neurologists has determined that the T. rex was not more intelligent than an average lizard or crocodile. It raises the question: Why is science seemingly critical of these ancient creatures?

The recent study contradicts the 2023 findings suggesting that the neuron count of the dinosaur directly correlated with its intelligence.

The earlier research proposed that the high neuron count indicated advanced cognitive abilities, possibly supported by evidence of evolved behaviors like tool use. However, when the scientists replicated the previous study’s methodology, the results painted a different picture.

Challenging Notions of T. rex Intelligence

Darren Naish, a paleontologist from the University of Southampton, commented on the intriguing yet unsettling notion that T. rex could have been as intelligent as a baboon, suggesting a potential revision of our understanding of the past. However, Naish emphasized that their study presented evidence contrary to this idea, portraying T. rex as more akin to intelligent giant crocodiles.

From a broader perspective of physiology, including skeletal anatomy, bone histology, trace fossils, and behaviors observed in modern-day relatives, the researchers assessed T. rex. They examined endocasts of T. rex brains, which are internal models of the cranial vault where the dinosaurs’ soft tissue would have resided.

The team discovered that previous estimates of brain size had been exaggerated, particularly concerning the forebrain. They attribute this to a failure to consider that dinosaurs, as reptiles, likely had a significant amount of cerebrospinal fluid in their cranial vault, rendering models depicting the brain filling the entire cavity inaccurate.

Downsizing the T. rex

Unfortunately for the T. rex, the team found that the estimates of neuron count were also overstated. Neuron count typically correlates with body size, meaning larger species tend to have more neurons. However, when considered alongside all the other evidence, the cognitive abilities of the dinosaur appeared to align more closely with those of crocodiles.

Ornella Bertrand from the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Palaeontology emphasized that neuron counts are unreliable predictors of cognitive performance, cautioning against using them to assess intelligence in extinct species.

Hady George from Bristol University emphasized the need to assess the intelligence of dinosaurs and other ancient creatures through multiple avenues, such as gross anatomy and fossil footprints, rather than solely relying on neuron count estimates.

So, what does this mean for the T. rex? Being compared to a reasonably intelligent lizard isn’t the worst fate. Intelligence isn’t the only measure of worth, and there’s no doubt that these legendary theropods possessed other admirable traits. Maybe they were great at giving massages and high-fives. Oh, perhaps not…

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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