Sauropods, the World's Largest Dinosaur, Grew to Larger Sizes Multiple Times, Challenging 'Cope's Law'

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 08 May 2023, 10:05 pm

The Tyrannosaurus Rex may be one of the most fearsome dinosaurs in history, but its plant-eating cousins, the Sauropods, are considered the largest dinos and animals to have walked and lived on the planet. In a new study, it was discovered that Sauropods are not bound to the so-called "Cope's Law" where an animal would evolve its size independently, throughout its lifetime.

It is now only discovered that Sauropods have pushed for its growth more times than known, as evidenced by the latest study by Adelphi University.

(Photo : SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Sauropods Evolved More Times, to Grow their Size, Than Expected

Adelphi University's latest study has shed new light on the astonishing growth of sauropods, the largest animals and dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth.

According to the research, conducted by paleontologist Michael D'Emic, assistant professor of biology at Adelphi University in New York, sauropods evolved to sizes much larger than previously believed, with their sizes increasing up to three dozen times over 100 million years before their eventual extinction.

For decades, scientists have marveled at the immense size of sauropods, such as the iconic Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus. However, the precise extent of their growth has remained a question that science has yet to answer, until now.

D'Emic's study sought to delve deeper into the evolution of these colossal creatures by examining their weight-bearing bones and reconstructing their body masses.

Using a technique called ancestral state reconstruction, D'Emic analyzed measurements of the circumferences of hundreds of weight-bearing bones from various sauropod species. By mapping the reconstructed body masses of nearly 200 sauropod species onto their evolutionary tree (via Phys.org), the study aimed to unveil the true extent of their growth and challenge long-standing beliefs about dinosaur sizes.

The Largest Animals are Defying 'Cope's Law'

Cope's Law is best known as the growth of an animal in a specific timeline in its existence here on the planet, adhering to independent evolution in several moments of its life. The research entitled "The Evolution of Maximum Body Size in Sauropod Dinosaurs" published in Current Biology relayed findings that are contradicting this law, saying that the animal grew larger more times than what the rule expected it to do.

Dinosaur Study in the World

Dinosaurs are known to be among the pre-historic creatures to have walked the planet before being wiped off by an asteroid which caused a tsunami, resulting in their extinction.

There are a lot of discoveries in the world that show fossils of these old Earth dwellers spread throughout the world, with paleontologists explaining how these creatures roamed the planet and lived with other beings, including early humans.

More information is yet to be discovered with the many studies present, and not all are looking to excavate bones that are not yet found.

D'Emic and Adelphi's study serves as a significant step forward in unraveling the mysteries of sauropod evolution. By utilizing cutting-edge techniques and meticulous analysis, the research provides valuable insights into the growth patterns and sizes of these magnificent creatures.