Some Dinosaurs Could Stand Upright Like Giants

Topic: Biology

Scientists studied two long-necked dinosaurs from South America. They found that these dinosaurs could stand on their hind legs for a long time when they were young, but as they grew bigger, it became harder for them to do so.

Some long-necked dinosaurs may have been able to stand upright like giants. Two such dinosaurs, Uberabatitan from Brazil and Neuquensaurus from Argentina, lived about 66 million years ago. They were not the biggest dinosaurs, but they were as big as modern elephants.

The researchers used a special method called finite element analysis (FEA) to test how these dinosaurs handled the forces involved in standing upright. This method is often used by engineers to see if buildings and bridges can withstand stress. The team created digital models of the femurs, or thigh bones, of seven sauropod species.

They found that the two South American sauropods had particularly strong femurs. Their bones were thicker and sturdier than those of other sauropods, which helped them to spread out the forces when they stood upright. The researchers estimated that younger Uberabatitans could stand on their hind legs for a long time, but as they grew bigger, it became harder for them to do so.

Why It Matters

This discovery can help us understand how dinosaurs lived and moved. It's also an example of how scientists use engineering tools to study the past.

Key Facts

• Two South American sauropods, Uberabatitan and Neuquensaurus, could stand upright like giants when they were young.
• The researchers used finite element analysis (FEA) to test how these dinosaurs handled the forces involved in standing upright.
• The two sauropods had particularly strong femurs that helped them to spread out the forces when they stood upright.
• Younger Uberabatitans could stand on their hind legs for a long time, but as they grew bigger, it became harder for them to do so.
• The study was published in the journal Palaeontology and was supported by FAPESP.

Key Terms

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

A method used by engineers to see if buildings and bridges can withstand stress, also used by scientists to test how ancient animals moved.

Implications

This discovery can help us understand how dinosaurs lived and moved. It's also an example of how scientists use engineering tools to study the past.