Estudo associa os braços curtos do T. rex à evolução de seu crânio poderoso

20 de maio de 2026

Reportado por IA

Os braços minúsculos do Tyrannosaurus rex provavelmente evoluíram conforme os dinossauros predadores gigantes passaram a usar seus crânios e mandíbulas maciças para caçar, segundo uma nova pesquisa. Cientistas examinaram dezenas de espécies de terópodes e encontraram uma forte conexão entre a redução dos membros anteriores e o fortalecimento do crânio. O estudo sugere que essa mudança ocorreu à medida que os predadores passaram a visar presas enormes.

Pesquisadores da University College London e da Universidade de Cambridge analisaram 82 espécies de terópodes. Eles determinaram que a redução dos membros anteriores evoluiu de forma independente em pelo menos cinco linhagens, incluindo os tiranossaurídeos. O elo entre braços curtos e crânios fortes mostrou-se mais significativo do que qualquer conexão com o tamanho corporal total.

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