By Tim Binnall
An intriguing new study paints a decidedly different picture of how some predatory dinosaurs, like the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex, may have looked as it suggests that the monstrous creatures sported lips similar to those of lizards. The thought-provoking argument is reportedly put forward in a new paper by paleontologists Derek Larson, Kirstin Brink, and Dr Mark Witton. Noting that the nature of therapod or bipedal dinosaurs' mouths has long been a subject of debate in scientific circles, they indicated that depictions of the creatures in pop culture began to eschew lips around 40 years ago in what was likely a matter of artistic license.
"It probably reflected preference for a new, ferocious-looking aesthetic rather than a shift in scientific thinking," Witton observed, noting that "there was never a dedicated study or discovery instigating this change." As such, the paleontologists decided to take a fresh look at the issue by conducting an exhaustive examination of "the tooth structure, wear patterns and jaw morphology of lipped and lipless reptile groups." While it had previously been suspected that therapod teeth were exposed to the elements in a manner similar to crocodiles, the duo's research actually found very limited wear in the specimens they studied.
Additionally, likening the mouths of predatory dinosaurs to modern day monitor lizards, they noted that the theory that their teeth were too large for lips to cover also does not stand up to scrutiny. "Even the giant teeth of tyrannosaurs are proportionally similar in size to those of living predatory lizards when compared for skull size," Cullen stressed. Based on their research, Witton posited that "a lot of our favorite dinosaur depictions are incorrect." Time will tell whether or not their work winds up resulting in such creatures being presented differently in the future or if pop culture will continue to favor the more menacing, albeit apparently wrong, lipless version of the prehistoric predatory reptiles.