Uni In The Brewery: Session 3

"Was Tyrannosaurus rex an endotherm ("warm blooded")? - a study of pythons and rats in tropical Australia"

Wednesday 28th June 2006, at 5:30 pm at Five Islands Brewery

By Professor Thomas Madsen (Faculty of Science)

Whether some (or all) of the spectacular dinosaurs, such as the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex , were endothermic ("warm blooded") or ectothermic ("cold blooded") has been hotly debated among scientists during the last 30-40 years.

In 1986 Robert Bakker, a famous American palaeontologist, published a book entitled "The Dinosaur Heresies" in which he presented data on predator - prey ratios of carnivorous dinosaurs and their prey.

His results suggested that these huge predators must have been "warm blooded".

Since 1989 I have been conducting studies of predator - prey ratios of water pythons and their main prey, the dusky rat, in the Top End of Australia. A summary of the results from my study will be presented, and more importantly do my data support or reject Robert Bakker's hypothesis of dinosaur endothermy?

Reptile expert Brad Walker will also add comment / provide discussion on Prof. Madsen's research.

Prof. Madsen and Mr Brad Walker at the Five Islands Brewery

Where: Five Islands Brewery, Eastern end of the WIN Entertainment Centre
When: 5:30 until 6:30 pm, Wednesday 28th June 2006 Cost: FREE
RSVP and Information: Vicky Wallace on 4221 4126 or email vwallace@uow.edu.au