Estimates of dinosaur speeds vary because several different
methods are used to calculate them. One recent estimate suggests
that an average person might have been able to to outrun an
adult Tyrannosaurus (although you probably would not volunteer
to try). The two basic approaches for estimating dinosaur speed
are comparing to recorded speeds of modern animals of similar
body size and build, and measuring distances between fossil
footprints in a trackway and using these distances to calculate
estimated speed. Walking-speed estimates for medium-sized
bipedal (two-legged) dinosaurs vary from 4 kph to 6 kph, and
peak running-speed estimates vary from 37 kph to 88 kph. The
highest figure (88.6 kph) is the same as the peak speed of the
currently fastest land animals, such as the North American
pronghorn "antelope" (Antilocapra americana), and very probably
is too high. Speed comparison of some ancient and modern animals
Maintained by Publications Services. Last modified 05-17-01
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