Overview
- The Royal Society Open Science paper from College of the Atlantic and U.S. collaborators presents the first quantitative biomechanical test of foot‑strike effects in Tyrannosaurus.
- Modeling indicates a smaller individual (~1.4 tonnes) could reach about 11.4 m/s, equivalent to roughly 8.77 seconds over 100 meters, faster than Usain Bolt’s record time.
- A heavier model (~6.5 tonnes) reached about 9.5 m/s, or roughly 10.52 seconds for 100 meters, consistent with a size‑dependent slowdown.
- The results argue T. rex contacted the ground with the front of the foot, consistent with bird‑like gait traits such as higher stride frequency and proportionally short strides, contradicting earlier heel‑strike interpretations from trackways.
- Authors and coverage note the speeds depend on mass and other assumptions, with reports citing faster juveniles (~11 m/s) and very large adults possibly closer to ~5 m/s, and separate 2024 work proposing heavier top masses that would further reduce speeds.