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Palaeontology

Could a human actually outrun a T. rex ?

By T.K. Randall
July 17, 2017 · Comment icon 16 comments

You still wouldn't want to get too close. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0 Marcel Kunkel
Contrary to the plot of Jurassic Park, a rampaging Tyrannosaurus rex wouldn't actually move very fast.
With previous estimates clocking the run speed of a T. rex at 45mph, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you wouldn't stand much of a chance if one of them started bolting towards you.

Now according to scientists in Germany however, these carnivorous behemoths were actually much slower on their feet than previously believed and were only capable of running at 16.5mph.

This is only slightly faster than the average human running speed and 11mph slower than legendary Olympic athlete Usain Bolt - officially the fastest human on Earth.
A velociraptor, on the other hand, would easily be able to catch you with a run speed of 34mph.

The research was based on an analysis of more than 500 modern species to determine the relationship between the size of an animal and the speed at which it can move.

"Palaeontologists have long debated the potential running speeds of large birds and dinosaurs, that roamed past ecosystems," said zoologist Dr Myriam Hirt.

"This is consistent with theories claiming Tyrannosaurus was very likely to have been a slow runner."

Source: Yahoo! News | Comments (16)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #7 Posted by poohbear 7 years ago
I've known this for years...in every movie ever made about dinosaurs the hero always makes it to the nearest cave with TR snapping at his heels. I've always wondered how this creature ever survived if it couldn't catch a mere human for its midday snack.
Comment icon #8 Posted by AustinHinton 7 years ago
Because Tyrannosaurus didn't feed on "mere humans", it fed on large slow-moving prey like ceratopsians and ankylosaurs. And considering it survived for at least 2 million years I think the species was quite good at what it did.
Comment icon #9 Posted by oldrover 7 years ago
I had the opportunity to say this in real life two weeks ago. OK, it was a mad cow chasing us not a tyrannosaur but you get the picture. 
Comment icon #10 Posted by The_V_Spirit 7 years ago
better stay clear from those pesky Velociraptors then, just in case they wanna revive'em in the future! ;)
Comment icon #11 Posted by Sundew 7 years ago
At 16.5 mph it could easily catch most of the people I've seen hanging around the local all you can eat Buffet. 
Comment icon #12 Posted by third_eye 7 years ago
I guess the comet caught up to them then ... ~
Comment icon #13 Posted by Twin 7 years ago
I think anyone that has been in high school track would not scoff at 16.5 mph. Many non athletic people might reach 12 mph but not many would sustain that for more than a few seconds. The preceding has been a reference to my personal (PATHETIC) track experience.
Comment icon #14 Posted by pfon71361 7 years ago
It seems his feet are bigger than his fleet.
Comment icon #15 Posted by poohbear 7 years ago
A very vicious bad tempered carnivore with all those teeth...but let's face it you'd be bad tempered too if your arms were too short to scratch your bum.
Comment icon #16 Posted by DebDandelion 7 years ago
Run..... No....I roll.... All jokes aside,  he doesn't have to be very fast to catch me, and.like most humans we don't reach high speeds...


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