Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Progress
  • Published:

Dinosaurian growth rates and bird origins

Nature volume 412, pages 405–408 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Dinosaurs, like other tetrapods, grew more quickly just after hatching than later in life. However, they did not grow like most other non-avian reptiles, which grow slowly and gradually through life. Rather, microscopic analyses of the long-bone tissues show that dinosaurs grew to their adult size relatively quickly, much as large birds and mammals do today. The first birds reduced their adult body size by shortening the phase of rapid growth common to their larger theropod dinosaur relatives. These changes in timing were primarily related not to physiological differences but to differences in growth strategy.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Cladogram of archosaurian taxa, after various sources, with subadult long-bone growth rates.
Figure 2: Comparative growth histories of the hadrosaurian dinosaur Maiasaura11 and the giant Cretaceous crocodile Deinosuchus, with ‘typical’ crocodiles for comparison15.
Figure 3: Transverse mid-shaft thin-sections of cortical bone of representative theropod taxa, showing the evolution of tissue from basal theropods to crown-group birds.
Figure 4: Cladogram of representative birds and other theropod dinosaurs, using crocodiles as an outgroup, to show the evolution of the growth strategies suggested by histological patterns, sampled in all taxa here except Archaeopteryx.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Case, T. J. Speculations on the growth rate and reproduction of some dinosaurs. Paleobiology 3, 320–328 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Reid, R. E. H. in The Complete Dinosaur (eds Farlow, J. O. & Brett-Surman, M. K.) 403–413 (Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Reid, R. E. H. in The Complete Dinosaur (eds Farlow, J. O. & Brett-Surman, M. K.) 449–473 (Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ricqlès, A. de in A Cold Look at the Warm-blooded Dinosaurs (eds Thomas, R. D. K. & Olson, E. C.) 103–139 (Westview, Boulder, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ricqlès, A. de. L’origine dinosaurienne des oiseaux et de l’endothermie avienne: les arguments histologiques. Année Biol. 39, 69–100 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Spotila, J. R. in A Cold Look at the Warm-blooded Dinosaurs (eds Thomas, R. D. K. & Olson, E. C.) 233–252 (Westview, Boulder, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dunham, A. E., Overall, K. L., Porter, W. P. & Forster, C. A. Implications of ecological energetics and biophysical and developmental constraints for life-history variation in dinosaurs. Geol. Soc. Am. Sp. Pap. 238, 1–19 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ricqlès, A. de, Meunier, F. J., Castanet, J. & Francillon-Vieillot, H. in Bone, Vol. 3: Bone Matrix and Bone Specific Products (ed. Hall, B. K.) 1–78 (CRC, Boca Raton, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rimblot-Baly, F., Ricqlès, A. de & Zylberberg, L. Analyse paléohistologique d’une série de croissance partielle chez Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis (Jurassique moyen). Ann. Paléontol. 81, 49–86 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Horner, J. R., Padian, K. & Ricqlès, A. J. de Comparative osteohistology of some embryonic and perinatal archosaurs: phylogenetic and behavioral implications for dinosaurs. Paleobiology 27, 39–58 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Horner, J. R., Ricqlès, A. J. de & Padian, K. The bone histology of the hadrosaurid dinosaur Maiasaura peeblesorum: growth dynamics and physiology based on an ontogenetic series of skeletal elements. J. Vert. Paleontol. 20, 109–123 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chinsamy, A. Bone histology and growth trajectory of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus carinatus Owen. Mod. Geol. 18, 319–219 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Curry, K. A. Ontogenetic histology of Apatosaurus (Dinosauria: Sauropoda): New insights on growth rates and longevity. J. Vert. Paleontol. 19, 654–665 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sander, P. M. Longbone histology of the Tendaguru sauropods: implications for growth and biology. Paleobiology 26, 466–488 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Erickson, G. M. & Brochu, C. A. How the ‘terror crocodile’ grew so big. Nature 398, 205–206 (1999).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Varricchio, D. J. Bone microstructure of the Upper Cretaceous theropod dinosaur Troodon formosus. J. Vert. Paleontol. 13, 99–104 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ricqlès, A. de, Padian, K. & Horner, J. R. in Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds (ed. Gauthier, J. A.) (Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, 2001) (in the press).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Varricchio, D. in Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs (eds Currie, P. J. & Padian, K.) 282–288 (Academic, San Diego, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Castanet, J., Rogers, K. C., Cubo, J. & Boisard, J.-J. Periosteal bone growth rates in extant ratites (ostrich and emu). Implications for assessing growth in dinosaurs. C.R. Acad. Sci. III 323, 543–550 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Erickson, G. M. & Tumanova, T. A. Growth curve of Psittacosaurus mongoliensis Osborn (Ceratopsia: Psittacosauridae) inferred from long bone histology. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 130, 551–566 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Amprino, R. La structure du tissu osseux envisagée comme expression de différences dans la vitesse de l’acroissement. Arch. Biol. 58, 315–330 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Castanet, J., Francillon-Vieillot, H., Meunier, F. J. & de Ricqlès, A. in Bone, Vol. 7: Bone Growth B (ed. Hall, B. K.) 245–283 (CRC, Boca Raton, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Padian, K. in Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs (eds Currie, P. J. & Padian, K.) 288–291 (Academic, San Diego, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Horner, J. R., Ricqlès, A. J. de & Padian, K. Variation in skeletochronological indicators of the hadrosaurid dinosaur Hypacrosaurus: implications for age assessment of dinosaurs. Paleobiology 25, 295–304 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Klevezal, G. A. Recording Structures of Mammals: Determination of Age and Reconstruction of Life History (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Chinsamy, A., Rich, T. & Vickers-Rich, P. Polar dinosaur bone histology. J. Vert. Paleontol. 18, 385–390 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Ricqlès, A. de, Padian, K., Horner, J. R. & Francillon-Viellot, H. Paleohistology of the bones of pterosaurs (Reptilia: Archosauria): anatomy, ontogeny, and biomechanical implications. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 129, 349–385 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Van Soest, R. W. M. & Van Utrecht, W. L. The layered structure of bones of birds as a possible indication of age. Bijdr. tot de Dierkde. 41, 61–66 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Klevezal, G. A., Kallar Sallas, A. V. & Kirpichev, S. P. Determination of age in birds by layers in the periosteal bone. Zool. Zh. 51, 1726–1730 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  30. de Buffrénil, V. & Castanet, J. Age estimation by skeletochronology in the Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus), a highly exploited species. J. Herpetol. 34, 414–424 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Chiappe, L. M., Ji S.-A., Ji Q., & Norell, M. A. Anatomy and systematics of the Confuciusornithidae (Theropoda: Aves) from the Late Mesozoic of northeastern China. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 242, 1–89 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Xu, X., Zhou, Z. & Wang, X. The smallest known non-avian theropod dinosaur. Nature 408, 705–708 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ji Q., Currie, P. J., Norell, M. A. & Ji, S.-A. Two feathered dinosaurs from northeastern China. Nature 393, 753–761 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Chinsamy, A., Chiappe, L. M. & Dodson, P. Mesozoic avian bone microstructure: physiological implications. Paleobiology 21, 561–574 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Chinsamy, A., Martin, L. D. & Dodson, P. Bone microstructure of the diving Hesperornis and the volant Ichthyornis from the Niobrara Chalk of western Kansas. Cret. Res. 19, 225–235 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang, F., Hou, L. & Ouyang, L. Osteological microstructure of Confuciusornis: preliminary report. Vert. PalAsiatica 36, 126–135 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Castanet, J., Grandin, A., Abourachid, A. & Ricqlès, A. de . Expression de la dynamique de croissance de l’os périostique chez Anas platyrhynchos. C.R. Acad. Sci. 319, 301–308 (1996).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Starck, J. M. & Ricklefs, R. E. (eds) Avian Growth and Development: Evolution within the Altricial–Precocial Spectrum (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1998).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Houck, M. A., Gauthier, J. A. & Strauss, R. E. Allometric scaling in the earliest fossil bird, Archaeopteryx lithographica. Science 247, 195–198 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Alberch, P., Gould, S. J., Oster, G. F. & Wake, D. B. Size and shape in ontogeny and phylogeny. Paleobiology 5, 296–317 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Erickson, G. M., Curry Rogers, K. & Yerby, S. A. Dinosaurian growth patterns and rapid avian growth rates. Nature 412, 429–433 (2001).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank M. Zelditch, J. Hutchinson and J. Cubo for comments, and K. Angielczyk for phylogenetic help. E. Lamm prepared the thin-sections. This work was supported by The Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust, the CNRS, the Collège de France, the Miller Institute for Basic Research, and the Committee on Research of the University of California, Berkeley. This is University of California Museum of Paleontology Contribution No. 1741.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-3140, California, USA

    Kevin Padian

  2. Équipe Formations Squelettiques, UMR 8570 CNRS, Université, Paris VII, 75251, cedex 05, Paris, France

    Armand J. de Ricqlès

  3. Collège de France, Paris, France

    Armand J. de Ricqlès

  4. Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman, 59717-0040, Montana, USA

    John R. Horner

Authors
  1. Kevin Padian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Armand J. de Ricqlès
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John R. Horner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin Padian.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Padian, K., de Ricqlès, A. & Horner, J. Dinosaurian growth rates and bird origins. Nature 412, 405–408 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35086500

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35086500

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing