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Tyrannosaurus rex was neither a quick sprinter nor a brisk walker
Photo: - / dpa
Every child knows it: Tyrannosaurus rex is probably the best-known species of dinosaur.
Their length of up to 13 meters and weight of around nine tons made the animals an imposing appearance and astonish not only the youngest to this day.
The reputation of the Tyrannosaurus rex as a fearsome hunter also contributes to the image.
When walking, however, the dinosaur was evidently rather leisurely.
According to anatomical analyzes, Dutch researchers calculate the giants' normal walking pace at around 1.28 meters per second - the equivalent of 4.6 kilometers per hour.
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Tyrannosaurus rex: reconstruction of the tail muscle
Photo: Pasha van Bijlert / dpa
For comparison: The average walking speed of people is around 1.34 to 1.42 meters per second - i.e. 4.8 to 5.1 kilometers per hour.
Raise and lower with every step
The normal walking speed in animals can be determined based on the natural frequency of the body parts involved, writes the team led by Pasha van Bijlert from the University of Amsterdam in the journal "Royal Society Open Science".
In the case of T. rex, who walked on two legs, in addition to the legs, this was mainly the tail.
This raised and lowered itself once with every step and thus supported the movement.
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Using a 3D reconstruction and a biomechanical model of vertebrae and joints of the dinosaur species, the Dutch researchers estimated the natural frequency of oscillation of the tail.
They assumed a hip height of 3.1 meters and a stride length of 1.94 meters.
Slower than Usain Bolt in the sprint
The determined walking speed of 1.28 meters per second is lower than previous estimates, the authors write.
However, this is not the fastest, but the preferred gait of the T. rex.
Previous studies had shown that the predatory dinosaur did not even reach 30 kilometers per hour while running.
For comparison: the former top sprinter Usain Bolt ran over 100 meters at an average speed of almost 38 kilometers per hour.
jme / dpa
