A recent study suggests that dinosaurs exhibited a remarkable growth rate right from their inception, setting them apart from other animals.
Unlike many species that slow down their growth as they age, dinosaurs maintained a swift growth rate throughout their lives, contributing to their evolutionary advantage.
The emergence of dinosaurs coincided with the Triassic Period following a catastrophic mass extinction event 252 million years ago, which drastically altered Earth’s ecosystem. This extinction, triggered by intense volcanic activity in Siberia, wiped out approximately 95% of all species, paving the way for the rise of dinosaurs and other organisms.
Lead researcher Curry Rogers highlights the significance of rapid growth rates among dinosaurs and their distant relatives during this tumultuous period. She suggests that fast growth conferred evolutionary benefits in a turbulent environment, contributing to the dominance of dinosaurs in subsequent epochs.
However, dinosaurs’ success cannot be solely attributed to their rapid growth. Instead, it was a combination of various physiological, biological, and behavioral adaptations unique to dinosaurs that propelled their evolutionary advancement.
Following another mass extinction event at the end of the Triassic Period around 201 million years ago, dinosaurs emerged as the dominant terrestrial animals. Their competitors dwindled, allowing dinosaurs to diversify and thrive, while other groups, such as crocodile-cousins, experienced a decline in growth patterns and lifestyle diversity.
