Evolutionary scientists are convinced that birds evolved from dinosaurs and, as a result, seek to demonstrate that dinosaurs were warm-blooded (endothermic) creatures, akin to modern birds.1 Nonetheless, much of the evidence put forward to support the idea that dinosaur metabolism resembled that of birds is flawed.2,3
Warm-blooded vs. cold-blooded
A warm-blooded (endothermic) animal produces its own internal heat through metabolic processes, resulting in a body temperature that remains fairly constant and is not significantly influenced by the external environment. In contrast, a cold-blooded (ectothermic) animal’s body temperature fluctuates, as it relies on external heat sources, such as sunlight, to regulate its warmth.
Determining whether dinosaurs were warm-blooded or cold-blooded requires an examination of their soft tissue anatomy. Unfortunately, only a limited amount of such tissue has been preserved in fossils, preventing a conclusive assessment of their metabolic nature. Nonetheless, certain evidence indicates that these ancient reptiles do not conform to the expectations set out by evolutionary theory.
‘Cold-blooded’ indicators
Many researchers contend that dinosaurs were warm-blooded, pointing to the structure of their bones as supporting evidence. The bones of dinosaurs feature numerous openings for blood vessels, suggesting they were highly vascularised. However, this alone cannot be considered conclusive proof of warm-bloodedness. Research by Tomasz Owerkowicz has shown that the presence of highly vascularised bones simply indicates that an animal was active, rather than providing evidence of its metabolic type.4
A more dependable indicator may lie in the size of the nasal cavity. Nearly all warm-blooded animals—99 percent—have nasal turbinates, which reduce the loss of water and heat during breathing. Dr. John Ruben examined dinosaur skulls by performing CT scans on four specimens, two of which were from predatory dinosaurs. His findings showed that all the nasal cavities were narrow, resembling those of modern cold-blooded animals, such as crocodiles.5
Both soft tissue and skeletal evidence also indicate that dinosaurs were cold-blooded. An examination of the abdominal cavity of Scipionyx, a small dinosaur often considered a precursor to modern birds, revealed that its respiratory system was more similar to that of crocodiles than to birds. This conclusion was based on the identification of a distinctive lung ventilation mechanism.6,7
It has been suggested that some dinosaurs, like tuna or leatherback turtles, may have been capable of elevating their body temperature in response to their level of activity.8 However, this would not mean they were able to regulate their body temperature in the same manner as truly warm-blooded animals.
As such, there is no persuasive scientific evidence to suggest that dinosaurs were warm-blooded. All the evidence available points to them being cold-blooded reptiles, which could have played a role in their extinction following the Flood, as the Ice Age began.
Conclusion
Secular scientists, who advocate for the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds, are often motivated to depict dinosaur metabolism as ‘warm-blooded.’ After all, it is difficult to explain how a warm-blooded descendant could arise from a cold-blooded ancestor. However, simply claiming that dinosaurs were endothermic does not offer definitive proof.
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Footnotes
- Fastovsky, D. E. and D. B. Weishampel, Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- Clarey, T. L., ‘Advocates for Cold-Blooded Dinosaurs: The New Generation of Heretics’, GSA Today, 17 (1), 45-46, 2007.
- Clarey, T., Dinosaurs: Marvels of God’s Design, Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2015, pp. 121-128.
- Morell, V., ‘A Cold, Hard Look at Dinosaurs’, Discover, 17 (12), 98-108, 1996.
- Ruben, J. A., ‘The Metabolic Status of Some Late Cretaceous Dinosaurs’, Science, 273 (5279), 1204-1207, 1996.
- Ruben, J. A. et al., ‘Lung Structure and Ventilation in Theropod Dinosaurs and Early Birds’, Science, 278 (5341), 1267-1270, 1997.
- Ruben, J. A. et al., ‘Pulmonary Function and Metabolic Physiology of Theropod Dinosaurs’, Science, 283 (5401), 514-516, 1999.
- Grady, J. M. et al., ‘Evidence for Mesothermy in Dinosaurs’, Science, 344 (6189), 1268-1272, 2014.
Based on: T. Clarey, Dinosaurs designed cold-blooded, Acts & Facts, Institute for Creation Research, January 2016, p. 15.
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