Dinosaur migration theories may change

EDMONTON, Alberta, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Canadian scientists are questioning whether dinosaurs actually traveled as far as thought while making their biannual migrations.

University of Alberta researchers Phil Bell and Eric Snively suggest that while some dinosaurs might have migrated during the winter season, their range was significantly less than previously thought, which means their treks were shorter.

The idea that dinosaurs might have traveled distances nine times farther than mule deer or four times those of wildebeest would have made them the greatest migrators in history, the researchers said.

"There are strong opinions regarding dinosaur migration, but we decided to take a different approach, looking at variables such as energy requirements," said Bell. He said their findings led them to suggest migrating dinosaurs could have traveled up to 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) in a round trip lasting perhaps up to six months. But that is half the distance suggested previously.

Given the dinosaurs' size and physiology, Bell and Snively concluded the animals would have been incapable of sustaining the effort needed to make a substantially longer migration.

Bell and Snively detailed their findings recently in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Paleontology.