Ancestors of T. rex may have performed a "lunar walk" to attract potential mates, according to a recent discovery of a dinosaur site potentially serving as a mating ground.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed a dinosaur mating arena at Dinosaur Ridge, dating back to the Cretaceous period. The study, published online on June 4 in the journal Cretaceous Research, suggests that multiple individuals participated in mating display behavior at this site during the Cenomanian age, which is between 100.5 million to 93.9 million years ago.
The team, led by paleontologist Buntin, was thrilled with the discovery of 25 new scrapes on the site, which were found using drone imagery. These scrapes were made by theropods, a group of bipedal dinosaurs that includes the famous Tyrannosaurus rex.
The dinosaurs at Dinosaur Ridge seemed to have showcased their prowess to potential mates by jabbing their claws deep into the sand, dragging their feet, and kicking up sand. Interestingly, these animals had at least two distinct moves: walking backwards and moving side to side. Some scrapes even show a counter-clockwise turn, similar to a moonwalk with a spin.
If the dinosaurs were particularly excited, they would repeat their moves, which erased the previous scrapes. These new scrapes were not immediately evident but became visible within an hour of processing the drone imagery.
The lek at Dinosaur Ridge can now be classified as a 'display arena,' or lek, due to the mating display behaviors observed. This discovery adds to our understanding of dinosaur behaviour and social structures, providing a fascinating glimpse into their lives millions of years ago.
Interestingly, the greater sage-grouse, a modern bird, performs an elaborate sunrise display each spring as a mating ritual. This similarity between the behaviour of dinosaurs and modern birds suggests that these display behaviours may have evolved early in the history of terrestrial vertebrates.
The discovery of this dinosaur mating arena at Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado opens up the possibility of more Jurassic secrets to unlock beneath the western US. As technology advances, who knows what other fascinating discoveries await us in the world of paleontology.
Read also:
- Mondelez prioritizes sustainability in its day-to-day business operations, with Kinh Do being no exception.
- Uncover Five Distant Money-Making Opportunities, Ready to Kickstart and delivering a daily earnings of $100 each.
- Gathering Gujarat's entrepreneurial community in the Innovation Dialogues hosted by our foundation, aiming to boost the pace of inclusive entrepreneurship and growth in Small and Medium Businesses.
- Mouth Cancer Symptoms, Identification, and Management Strategies
