New Study Suggests Tyrannosaurus Rex Had Similar Intelligence to Crocodiles
Recent research has challenged previous claims that Tyrannosaurus rex was as intelligent as monkeys. According to a new study, these fearsome dinosaurs were more likely to have had the intelligence comparable to modern crocodiles rather than primates.
Neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel had previously suggested that T. rex and other theropod dinosaurs had brain structures similar to monkeys, leading to beliefs that they were highly intelligent creatures. However, new findings suggest that these dinosaurs may have had lower neuron counts than previously thought, and that using neuron count as a measure of intelligence in ancient animals may not be accurate.
The difficulty in studying the intelligence of extinct species lies in the fact that dinosaur organs, including brains, do not preserve well over millions of years. This makes it challenging to determine exactly how intelligent creatures like T. rex were. To get a better understanding, experts recommend studying the animals that are alive today rather than trying to make assumptions based on fossilized remains.
While the idea of T. rex being as smart as a baboon is intriguing, the data does not seem to support this theory. These dinosaurs were more likely to have had the intelligence of smart giant crocodiles, rather than primates.
Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the intelligence of Tyrannosaurus rex, one thing is for certain – they remain one of the most captivating and fearsome predators in popular culture. Researchers continue to explore and discuss the cognitive abilities of these ancient creatures, without the need to conduct experiments on live animals.
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