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Dinosaur size limits research
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2026-08-06 12:52 UTC → 2026-08-07 21:36 UTC ·
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Researchers from the American Museum of Natural History and Princeton University published have reinforced their earlier findings with a study new paper in *Evolution*. Using the journal *Evolution* that uses a same mathematical model of vertebrate body‑size evolution. The model shows evolution, the authors show that energetics and physiology explain size ranges in mammals, birds and turtles, but not the persistent absence of truly tiny non‑avian dinosaurs. The smallest known non‑avian dinosaurs, such as non‑bird dinosaurs – *Microraptor* (≈430 g), *Fruitadens* (≈730 g) and *Fruitadens*, weighed around 400 grams—roughly 200 times heavier *Anchiornis* (≈530 g) – remain orders of magnitude larger than the tiniest modern birds birds, mammals and mammals. The authors argue lizards. Co‑lead researcher Stephanie Lechki notes that small animals require fewer resources and mature faster, while co‑author Roger Benson argues that early mammals, shrew‑sized mammals already occupying occupied the ecological niche of very small animals, out‑competed dinosaurs for those resources, smallest‑body niches, preventing dinosaurs from evolving to mouse‑size. mouse‑ or sparrow‑sized forms. The study reproduces continues to reproduce size ranges for mammals, birds and turtles, but yet fails to match the size distribution of dinosaurs, snakes, lizards and crocodilians, supporting the hypothesis that competition with small mammals constrained dinosaur miniaturisation.
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- 2026-08-07 21:36 UTC Dinosaur size limits research
- 2026-08-06 12:52 UTC Dinosaur size limits research
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