Multiple taxon–multiple locality approach to providing oxygen isotope evidence for warm-blooded theropod dinosaurs

Research Article| September 01, 2000 Multiple taxon–multiple locality approach to providing oxygen isotope evidence for warm-blooded theropod dinosaurs Henry C. Fricke; Henry C. Fricke 1Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Raymond R. Rogers Raymond R. Rogers 2Department of Geology, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Henry C. Fricke 1Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Raymond R. Rogers 2Department of Geology, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 02 Feb 2000 Revision Received: 12 Jun 2000 Accepted: 14 Jun 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (9): 799–802. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<799:MTLATP>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 02 Feb 2000 Revision Received: 12 Jun 2000 Accepted: 14 Jun 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Henry C. Fricke, Raymond R. Rogers; Multiple taxon–multiple locality approach to providing oxygen isotope evidence for warm-blooded theropod dinosaurs. Geology 2000;; 28 (9): 799–802. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<799:MTLATP>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Oxygen isotope ratios of fossil remains of coexisting taxa from several different localities can be used to help investigate dinosaur thermoregulation. Focusing on the Late Cretaceous, oxygen isotope ratios of crocodile tooth enamel from four separate localities exhibit less of a decrease with latitude than do ratios of tooth enamel from coexisting theropod dinosaurs. A shallower latitudinal gradient for crocodiles is consistent with how oxygen isotope ratios should vary for heterothermic animals having body temperatures coupled with their environments ("cold blooded"), while a steeper gradient for theropods is consistent with how these ratios should vary for homeothermic animals having constant body temperatures independent of their environments ("warm blooded"). This inferred homoethermy in theropods is likely due to higher rates of metabolic heat production relative to crocodiles and is not an artifact of body size. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.