A recently released research study has shed some valuable light on this issue. It provides a new way to determine the sex of hadrosaurid dinosaurs, commonly called duck-billed dinosaurs. Dr. Filippo Bertozzo from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is the first author of the study. It specifically zeroes in on the tail injuries of Cretaceous Period dwellers which may hold clues to how we can tell male and female specimens apart.
Known for their distinctive, wide, flat snouts, hadrosaurids were among the most successful and abundant of all dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period. Within their ranks, the Edmontosaurus is one of the most completely preserved representatives. Utilizing cutting edge technology, researchers produced detailed 3D models to study the tail bones of Edmontosaurus. This technology allowed for unprecedented analysis of the structures that have mystified paleontologists for decades.
The research team then mapped the distributions of 551 neural spines found among hadrosaurid fossils. They relied on these fossils from museum collections found throughout North America, Europe and Asia. They performed computer simulations to find the causes of the unusual breaks in these fossils. Their objective was to understand the mechanism of how these fractures happened. Past discussions about the origins of tail injuries included everything from accidental trampling to intraspecific combat between these dinosaurs.
Perhaps most remarkably, the team identified a pattern of repetitive tail injuries in hadrosaurid dinosaurs. Their findings indicate that these injuries probably originated from a diagonal weight pushing down onto the top of the tail. I found this pressure at angles of attack from 30 to 60 deg. This latest realization sheds light on the impressive physical challenges that hadrosaurids contended with. It further enhances our understanding of how they operate and engage with one another.
Not just a fascinating anatomical study, the research has major implications. It might even result in a revolutionary new technique for telling female hadrosaurid dinosaurs apart. This new development would likely deepen our understanding of gender variations within this cohort. Perhaps more importantly, it can inform ongoing research initiatives to reimagine their social systems.
Published in the journal iScience with the DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113739, this research represents a crucial step forward in paleontological studies. Scientists are employing highly sophisticated modeling and simulation techniques to study fossils. That combination is allowing them to begin to untangle the unique mysteries of hadrosaurid life.
