Tyrannosaurus rex walked slower than you think, about 3 miles per hour

• Animal movement can be an important factor in determining ecological niche.

• Scientists assumed that animals reduce locomotor energy usage by doing gait movement tuned to the natural frequencies of related body parts.

• Researchers demonstrate that this allows them to estimate the preferred step frequency and walking speed of T-rex.

• The tail of dinosaur that walks in two legs was actively involve in walking.

• However, the tail was suspended passively by the caudal interspinous ligaments which allowed for energy storage through elasticity.

• To maintain high elastic energy storage, walking steps and natural frequencies would have to be complemented.

• Researchers determined the tail natural frequency to be 0.66 per second and the walking speed to be 1.28 meters per second.

• The walking speed in this study was found to be lower than earlier estimations for large theropods.

Sources:

van Bijlert Pasha A., van Soest A. J. ‘Knoek’ and Schulp Anne S. (2021). Natural Frequency Method: estimating the preferred walking speed of Tyrannosaurus rex based on tail natural frequencyR. Soc. open sci.8201441201441
http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201441