EnglishArcher Posted September 27, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I was wondering if there has been any scientific evidence to suggest the life span of dinosaurs. Could there a way to find out how old a dinosaur is by studying the fossils, or would it all based on guess work. I noticed on this website how long birds can live for, i'm amazed. MAMMALS YEARS Elephant 69 Horse 50 Hippopotamus 49 Chimpanzee 40 Grizzly Bear 32 Bison 30 Lion 30 Tiger 25 Elk 22 Mountain Lion 20 Beaver 19 Wolf 16 Squirrel 16 Chipmunk 12 Cottontail 10 House Mouse 4 BIRDS YEARS Turkey Buzzard 118 Swan 102 Parrot 80 Great Horned Owl 68 Eagle 55 English Sparrow 23 Canary 22 Humming Bird 8 REPTILES YEARS Giant Tortoise 152 Box Turtle 123 Alligator 68 Snapping Turtle 57 Cobra 28 Cottonmouth 21 AMPHIBIANS YEARS Giant Salamander 55 Toad 36 Bullfrog 30 Mud Puppy 23 Green Frog 10 Newt 7 FISH YEARS Catfish 60 Eel 55 Carp 47 Mosquitofish 2 INSECTS YEARS Cicada 17 Ant (queen) 15 Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zillarancher Posted September 27, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Hmm, I'm not sure if there has been any definate research on this. I bet most of it is guesswork and theories. Wow, birds can live a long time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aztec Warrior Posted September 27, 2006 #3 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Probably more difficult to date the age limit of a dino than count the rings on a tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollingThunder06 Posted September 28, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Thanks for composing that list. That was fun seeing those facts. Would imagine dinosaurs would be guess work. I don't even remember reading about any life spans for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roj47 Posted September 28, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 28, 2006 If you are under the belief of the lochness monster then...... 65 mill years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draconic chronicler Posted September 28, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) The alligator age is based on a captive specimen but based on the sizes of the really big ones, many scientist believe they can live well over 100 years. Dinos and Crocs are both archosaurs and seem to have similar physiologies. I imagine the larger species of dinos could also live over 100 years. I believe you can actually tell by growth rings on the larger bones, much like trees. Edited September 28, 2006 by draconic chronicler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roj47 Posted September 29, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 29, 2006 The alligator age is based on a captive specimen but based on the sizes of the really big ones, many scientist believe they can live well over 100 years. Dinos and Crocs are both archosaurs and seem to have similar physiologies. I imagine the larger species of dinos could also live over 100 years. I believe you can actually tell by growth rings on the larger bones, much like trees. Admittedly there is no way to prove right or wrong on answers. The larger dinos..... I couldn't imagine living too long due to being an easy target for predators. The environment they lived in was very dynamic and constantly at war if you will. Again this could be very wrong, but likewise sea creatures I could imagine living 100+ Ummm.... Mr Contradiction enters the room Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilot28 Posted September 30, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 30, 2006 I would say since dinos are close reletives to birds and crocs they could have had long life spans. Its possible they could have lived to be over a 100. Also I beleave the larger dinos could live very long lives. Roj47 l you said there size made them a good target. Well ownly for a time. Eventually they would have out grown any predator. Most large soropad dinos go very big. There size was there deffense. Then again this is all just theory and congecture. No one can accurately date something like that. So its all just speculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Carnivore Posted September 30, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Thanks for composing that list. That was fun seeing those facts. Would imagine dinosaurs would be guess work. I don't even remember reading about any life spans for them. I've read estimates from 20 to 1000 I think maybe 200 for the carnivores, slightly longer for large sauropods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azaezel Posted October 31, 2006 #10 Share Posted October 31, 2006 That's an interesting question - I think generally large animals have long lifespans and dinosaurs wouldn't have been an exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantazum Posted November 11, 2006 #11 Share Posted November 11, 2006 I was wondering if there has been any scientific evidence to suggest the life span of dinosaurs. Could there a way to find out how old a dinosaur is by studying the fossils, or would it all based on guess work. I noticed on this website how long birds can live for, i'm amazed. MAMMALS YEARS Elephant 69 Horse 50 Hippopotamus 49 Chimpanzee 40 Grizzly Bear 32 Bison 30 Lion 30 Tiger 25 Elk 22 Mountain Lion 20 Beaver 19 Wolf 16 Squirrel 16 Chipmunk 12 Cottontail 10 House Mouse 4 BIRDS YEARS Turkey Buzzard 118 Swan 102 Parrot 80 Great Horned Owl 68 Eagle 55 English Sparrow 23 Canary 22 Humming Bird 8 REPTILES YEARS Giant Tortoise 152 Box Turtle 123 Alligator 68 Snapping Turtle 57 Cobra 28 Cottonmouth 21 AMPHIBIANS YEARS Giant Salamander 55 Toad 36 Bullfrog 30 Mud Puppy 23 Green Frog 10 Newt 7 FISH YEARS Catfish 60 Eel 55 Carp 47 Mosquitofish 2 INSECTS YEARS Cicada 17 Ant (queen) 15 Source Thanks for posting the stats. Very informative. I once lived in South America and became quite familiar with a type of Turkey Vulture which according to local legend could live to a very great age. They were reputed to become more intelligent the older they got and I got the chance to observe them in the wild for some time. They do become more intelligent the older they get. They develop a guile and cunningness that is quite astounding. The older birds are impossible to hunt either with trap or gun. They can spot a hunter either human or animal from a mile away and they develop an acute sense of danger. The younger birds will harry a sick or dying animal while the older birds will not, but rather mark the location of the dying beast before continuing to forage for other sources of food, occasionally returning to the marked beast in order to check on its condition. Around human habitats the older turkey vulture can develop methods of stealing food that is not only very humorous but deftly skillful. They have the patience of Job and will watch a house all day considering various means with which to rob it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogfish Posted November 11, 2006 #12 Share Posted November 11, 2006 Many Paleontologists believe sauropods can live for longer than 150 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrainlegend Posted November 23, 2006 #13 Share Posted November 23, 2006 the larger ones probably live a long time, probably more than 50 years The problem with the smaller ones is that most of them were eaten before they could die of old age Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitchhiker Posted November 23, 2006 #14 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Wasnt it recently discovered that some whales (specificaly baleen whales) can live upwards of 200 years? I rememeber reading something about that a while back. I wish I could find that article. Does anyone have any information on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkletae Posted November 25, 2006 #15 Share Posted November 25, 2006 The alligator age is based on a captive specimen but based on the sizes of the really big ones, many scientist believe they can live well over 100 years. Dinos and Crocs are both archosaurs and seem to have similar physiologies. I imagine the larger species of dinos could also live over 100 years. I believe you can actually tell by growth rings on the larger bones, much like trees. if a t-rex lived up to 100+ years thats a lot of food. i "think(guessing)" if these giant did lived up to those ages, then they would have a serious food shortage problems, no??? i'd imagine a single t-rex, living up to 100+years, could put a tremendous chunck out of local food popultion. how long could they provide that supply and demand??? just curious??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now