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A new study led by researchers at UCL and Cambridge University proposes that the reduction of forelimbs in multiple lineages of carnivorous dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus rex, was likely driven by the concurrent evolution of large, powerful heads used for predation. As the skull became the primary tool for capturing and processing prey, selective pressure may have favored smaller arms to avoid injury during group feeding or to redistribute biomass toward more functionally critical structures. This pattern of arm reduction appears to have emerged independently in several distinct meat-eating dinosaur groups, suggesting a convergent evolutionary pathway.
Why it matters
Understanding the biomechanical trade-offs that shaped dinosaur body plans contributes to broader knowledge of evolutionary constraints and how natural selection balances competing anatomical demands in predatory animals. This research also offers a framework for studying convergent evolution in other vertebrate lineages.
The evolution of tiny arms in several groups of meat-eating dinosaurs was likely driven by the development of strong, powerful heads, which were used to attack prey, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL (University College London) and Cambridge University.
Source: Why meat-eating dinosaurs like T. rex evolved tiny arms