Across China: Horned dinosaurs become less intelligent over time: study
China DailyWUHAN -- A collaborative study between Chinese and US scientists has revealed that horned dinosaurs experienced a decline in intelligence, hearing and sense of smell as they evolved to larger sizes over 100 million years. Instead of the traditional method of creating a physical cast of the cranial cavity using materials like resin, the research team used computed tomography to scan the dinosaur skulls and digitally reconstruct models of their cranial cavities. They also found that the early horned dinosaurs bore relatively large brain volumes, even higher than most extant reptiles. "It is most likely linked to their increasing body size," he said, explaining that smaller ceratopsians relied on sharp senses to evade predators, while larger species, equipped with substantial body mass and defensive bony horns, likely depended less on sensory acuity for survival.
History of this topic
Flamboyant dinosaur with elaborate orange horns hailed as a 'sexy beast' by researchers is discovered in the ancient swamps of Montana
Daily Mail
New horned dinosaur found in US was ancestor to triceratops, paleontologists say
The IndependentDiscover Related
