New research on the Albertosaurus shows dinosaurs actually went through the teenage phase. The teenage phase is classified as sudden growth spurts, not puberty (at the moment). Researcher Philip Currie from University of Alberta believes they are more human (mammal-like) than reptilian. Gregory Erickson from Florida State University confirmed the discovery while putting together the first non-avian (non-bird related) dinosaur growth chart.

The chart compared twenty-two Albertosaurus fossils from a bone bed in southern Alberta, where the ages of the creature ranged from two to twenty-eight years old when they died. They plotted measurements of weight and size of the Albertosaurus. They have concluded that the growth and death patterns did not fit reptiles at all.

The explanation for this is simple—throughout a reptile’s life, say a snake, they continue to grow. Reptiles never cease to stop growing, which is why they can become so big before they die. In the case of dinosaurs they, they reach a certain point and stop growing, just like mammals.

This is an amazing discovery among itself, and will possibly pave the way for us to revamp our outlook on dinosaurs. Possibly prompt Spielberg and his dinosaur expert to take this new discovery into consideration for Jurassic Park IV. It makes me wonder if inGen would have discovered this when they were manipulation the dinosaur DNA in an essence to make them grow faster for a profit. Read more about it at CNEWS – Research confirms dinosaurs had teenage phase, making them more like mammals.