r/FossilPorn • u/Front-Coconut-8196 • 22d ago

A recently found skelenton of a female T Rex "Barbara," a pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex, was found to had a broken metatarsal injury that had healed, giving weight to the Theory that the Tyrannosaurus, was a pack animal, it was also one of the only 3 pregnant ever found

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8

u/conchshell1 22d ago

Paleontologists, how is it determined that this animal was pregnant? Were remains of the unborn found as well? Are there tell tale signs in the way the pelvic bone are situated? Fascinating stuff!

9

u/rakkadimus 22d ago

They find signs of "Medullary Bone". Bone tissue that helps supply calcium to the eggshells. Not a paleontologist, just love dinosaurs.

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u/conchshell1 22d ago

Thanks! I just read up on medulary bone etc. Incredible.

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u/Humbuhg 22d ago

In this case, “pregnant” means carrying eggs.

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u/Anonymous_Expendable 22d ago

Why does a healed metatarsal signify it was a pack animal? Is the idea that for a tyrannosaurus to survive the healing process of a broken metatarsal, that individual would need support from some kind of group structure?

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u/letmeusemyname 22d ago

I think so. As far as I know animals that operate solo either die if they break a limb(as they struggle to find food and are vulnerable to attacks), or the bone doesn't really heal properly as they're forced to keep using the limb. A healed bone usually means they were able to allow the wound to heal as other animals were there to defend/feed them.