Endothermy in dinosaurs

[miena]

I started to research this topic about a month ago for an assignment that I have to do and found it to be a very interesting and controversial topic.

Because it has always been accepted that dinosaurs were reptile like vertebrates it was always assumed that they had to be ectothermic (cold-blooded). But new evidence shows that they were much closer related to birds and that they wouldn’t have been able to dominate the earth for so long if they were ectothermic. Dinosaur physiology also show that they more likely to be endothermic.

Would love to hear what you guys think about this…

[Prometheus]

Quote by: miena I started to research this topic about a month ago for an assignment that I have to do and found it to be a very interesting and controversial topic. Because it has always been accepted that dinosaurs were reptile like vertebrates it was always assumed that they had to be ectothermic (cold-blooded). But new evidence shows that they were much closer related to birds and that they wouldn’t have been able to dominate the earth for so long if they were ectothermic. Dinosaur physiology also show that they more likely to be endothermic. Would love to hear what you guys think about this…

Homeostasis in dino's is heardly a new theory. I am not an expert, but the ones I have talked to seem to agree that it was probably the case. Apparently, the size and diet of the creatures makes more sence if they are homeothermic. Also, they found a partially fossilized heart, and apparently, it was not the typical 3/4 heart of reptiles and birds, but more like the 4 hear of mammals.

The phylogeny bears this out. Modern reptiles didn't evolve from dinosaurs. The split way back in the time of the amphibians. Mammals are a brance from the dino's, so it makes sence that the heart and homeistasis would be similar as well.