Dinosaurs with Sails: What Were They Used For?

Did dinosaurs with sails on their back use them for?

a) Protection

b) Thermoregulation

c) Attracting a mate

Answer:

Dinosaurs with sails on their back, like Spinosaurus, likely used these sails for thermoregulation and as a display to deter predators or attract a mate.

Not all dinosaurs had sails on their back, but some like the Spinosaurus did. It's believed that these sails could have had multiple functions. One theory is that they were used for thermoregulation, allowing the dinosaur to absorb or dispel heat. This is due to the large surface area, which would have filled with blood vessels, so by positioning their sail towards or away from the sun, they could control their temperature.

Another theory proposes that these sails were used for display, scaring off predators and attracting mates, much like the brightly colored crests of some pterosaurs. Understanding that dinosaurs and their descendants, pterosaurs and birds, had a wide variety of adaptations for survival can further deepen our understanding of these intriguing prehistoric creatures.