Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

cbabe

(5,236 posts)
Tue Jul 8, 2025, 11:18 AM Tuesday

What did dinosaurs sound like?

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221212-the-mysterious-song-of-the-dinosaurs

What did dinosaurs sound like?

23 May 2025
By Richard Gray profile image
Richard Gray
@chalkmark

We tend to associate dinosaurs with ground-shaking roars, but the latest research shows that this is probably mistaken.

You'd feel it more than hear it – a deep, visceral throb, emerging from somewhere beyond the thick foliage. Like the rumble of a foghorn, it would thrum in your ribcage and bristle the hairs on your neck. In the dense forests of the Cretaceous period, it would have been terrifying.

We have few clues for what noises dinosaurs might have made while they ruled the Earth before being killed off 66 million years ago. The remarkable stony remains uncovered by palaeontologists offer evidence of the physical prowess of these creatures, but not a great deal about how they interacted and communicated. Sound doesn't fossilise, of course.

From what we know about animal behaviour, however, dinosaurs were almost certainly not silent.
Now with the help of new, rare fossils and advanced analysis techniques, scientists are starting to piece together some of the clues about how dinosaurs might have sounded.

… more … scroll down for video of simulated sound…
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What did dinosaurs sound like? (Original Post) cbabe Tuesday OP
I know I wouldn't want that sound True Dough Tuesday #1
Also, it could be argued True Dough Tuesday #2
Very cool! Thanks for posting this. Ocelot II Tuesday #3
given that dinosaurs came in such a vast range of shapes and sizes ... stopdiggin Tuesday #4
Would be cool dweller Tuesday #5
Let's all sing like the birdies sing/Disney 1944 cbabe Tuesday #6
Closest we have is probably Komodo dragons and they don't roar... hlthe2b Tuesday #7

True Dough

(23,650 posts)
1. I know I wouldn't want that sound
Tue Jul 8, 2025, 11:21 AM
Tuesday

in my ear while I'm trying to sleep at night. That's for sure!

stopdiggin

(14,012 posts)
4. given that dinosaurs came in such a vast range of shapes and sizes ...
Tue Jul 8, 2025, 11:31 AM
Tuesday

why would we not assume (absent solid evidence), that their vocalization would be similarly varied? Everything from growls to howls - cheeps and peeps - croaks, burps, mews and purrs - chihuahua screams - the occasional fart ... And probably a few things our puny human brains have not dreamt up as yet?

dweller

(26,828 posts)
5. Would be cool
Tue Jul 8, 2025, 11:51 AM
Tuesday

If they all sounded like birds … ducks , turkeys , parrots etc
🤔



✌🏻

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»What did dinosaurs sound ...