Animals of all kinds maintain optimum body temperature. The biochemical functions of humans or other animals are regulated by enzymes, ones that are only effective within certain temperature ranges. Ectotherms gain most of their heat from outside of the body, while endotherms gain most of their heat internally. Metabolism (the burning of food to make energy) is the internal energy source in animals. Paleontologists have been fascinated with thermoregulation in large dinosaurs for many years. For the most part paleontologists thought Dinosaurs were ectotherms. However, fossil morphology has been inconclusive with respect to the ectotherm/endotherm debate. New discoveries based on measuring oxygen isotopes found in tooth enamel of theropod dinosaurs and other discoveries point to the theory that dinosaurs show a pattern similar to present-day endothermic mammals and birds. This analysis will explore this debate.
Historically, dinosaurs were seen as reptilian-like creatures, that is, ones that regulated heat externally. However, recent discoveries point to the fact that at least some dinosaurs may have been endothermic. A new range of fossil discoveries from China show that a huge number of small theropod dinosaurs were blanketed in feathers (Sloan 98). Some paleontologists disagree with the “feather” find. Many argue that the feathers are in actuality merely folds thin transparent membranes, like the webbing on a duck’s feet. Others argue the fossils show feather-like appendages and point to a connection between dinosaurs and birds, that is, endothermic animals.
Dinosaurs were the most dominant form of life on earth for over 150 million years. They ranged in size from small 2 kg egg thieves to 80-ton herbivores. Fossils of dinosaurs are located on all continents. Dinosaurs became extinct in the late Cretaceous period, making way for the age of mammals (Bakker 5). The physiology of dinosaurs was desig...