Scientists studying the remains of ancient creatures say that large dinosaurs did not grow at the same rate. Some dinosaurs grew slowly and steadily. Others experienced a growth spurt as they neared adulthood. A “growth spurt” is when something or someone grows very quickly. For example, children usually have a growth spurt between the ages of 12 and 18. The same appears to be true for some dinosaurs! The research appeared recently in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B publication. To reach their findings, scientists cut through the fossilized bones of dinosaurs. They examined the yearly growth rings of the bones from 11 kinds of theropods. Theropods are a group of dinosaurs that mainly walked on two legs and include big meat-eating dinosaurs, like tyrannosaurus rex, commonly known as T. rex. Reuters news agency reports that this new study provides a look into the lives of some of the most fearsome hunters ever to walk the Earth.

What is a fossil?
preserved remains or impressions of a plant or animal
a large creature
a scientist who studies bones
a school for paleontologists
What are theropods?
a group of dinosaurs that mainly walked on two legs
a heating pad for painful joints
dinosaurs that swam in pods
a drawing of dinosaurs
A growth spurt is when someone grows very quickly.
grows very quickly
runs very fast
learns very quickly
recovers from an illness