Holes on T. rex sculls functioned as air-conditioning

ANKARA

Recent studies found out that Tyrannosaurus rex skulls contained holes in their skulls that functioned as air-conditioning system to adjust their body temperatures.

Researchers from the University of Missouri found out that T. rex's had the similar blood-filled holes in their skull as alligators, according to research published in the journal Anatomical Record.

Kent Vliet, a research team member from University of Florida, said the body temperature of the alligators depends on environmental conditions.

"We noticed when it was cooler and the alligators are trying to warm up, our thermal imaging showed big hot spots in these holes in the roof of their skull, indicating a rise in temperature," the researcher said.

"Later in the day when it's warmer, the holes appear dark, like they were turned off to keep cool," he added.

The 3D images of the T. rex skulls also show two large holes like the alligators that allowed dinosaurs to help manage their body temperatures.

In the past, it was believed that the two large holes in the roof of a T. rex's skull were filled with muscles to assist its jaw movements.