When it comes to the age-old debate of which dinosaur would win in a race, forget everything Hollywood taught you. While “Jurassic Park” might have portrayed the velociraptors as the speedy predators, recent scientific studies suggest otherwise. The popular image of raptors darting around at remarkable speeds might need a revision. In fact, it turns out that the T. rex, often depicted as a lumbering giant, might have been surprisingly fast on its feet.
A study published in the journal Nature estimates the top speed of the fearsome T. rex to be around 25 mph (40 km/h). This was achieved by computer simulations that took into account the size, weight, and limb structure of the dinosaur. In comparison, the velociraptors, which are known for their agility in popular culture, were estimated to have a top speed of about 24 mph (39 km/h). These findings are certainly surprising, as they challenge the preconceptions many of us have about these prehistoric creatures.
This revelation sheds light on the actual capabilities of these dinosaurs, showing that the T. rex was not just a slow, plodding giant but a creature with impressive speed for its size. While the velociraptors were undoubtedly quick and agile, the T. rex could match and even slightly exceed their speed. So, if we were to stage a race between these two iconic dinosaurs, it seems the T. rex would cross the finish line just a bit ahead of the raptor, surprising as that may be.
(Response: Yes, the T. rex is estimated to be faster than a raptor, based on recent scientific studies and computer simulations.)