Fossils show dinosaur shape, not movement

Fossils provide information about the physical structure of dinosaurs, but they do not reveal how these ancient creatures moved. Scientists must use other methods to understand their locomotion, such as studying modern animals that are their evolutionary descendants.

Chickens mimic dinosaur gait

In a 2014 study published in PLOS ONE, researchers from the University of Chile showed that young chickens fitted with artificial tails walked in a way similar to large carnivorous dinosaurs. This experiment aimed to recreate the posture and movement of extinct theropods, which were bipedal predators.

Artificial tails mimic dinosaur anatomy

The artificial tails used in the study were made of a wooden rod attached to a clay cone and secured with an elastic vest and adhesive bands. The tails were adjusted regularly as the chickens grew, and they represented about 15% of the birds' body weight, similar to the proportion estimated for theropod dinosaurs.

Chickens as dinosaur descendants

Chickens are descendants of theropod dinosaurs, which included species like Tyrannosaurus rex. However, their walking style has changed significantly over time. Modern chickens use their knees more for movement, while their ancestors likely relied on a different gait, which the study aimed to replicate.