We Have the Opportunity to Hear the Real Sounds of Dinosaurs in the 21st Century.
How can you discover the sound of an extinct animal? This question has challenged evolutionary scientists for centuries. The answer, as expected, lies in their fossils.
A new research project has been conducted focusing on Parasaurolophus, a unique dinosaur with a duck-bill, bipedal movement, standing about 5 meters tall, and characterized by a large crest on its head.
The Parasaurolophus dinosaur may produce special sounds based on its crest-like structure on its head (Photo: Shutterstock).
According to archaeologists, this dinosaur produced sounds using its crest, which has a tubular structure, nicknamed the “linophone”. This is essentially a part that connects to the chambers within its skull.
By simulating the calls of this extinct species that lived approximately 76.5 to 73 million years ago, researchers created a physical model based on the resonating chamber found in the skull of the Parasaurolophus.
They then stimulated it using a small speaker, allowing a microphone to capture frequency data from the entire system. The results from the experiments showed that the model could amplify sound frequencies of 581 Hz, 827 Hz, and 1056 Hz, all within the range audible to humans.
“The linophone simulation device is based on mathematical modeling to verify the model experimentally,” said Hongjun Lin, a researcher from New York University.
The model and study on the sound characteristics emitted by the Parasaurolophus dinosaur were presented at the 187th online meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, which took place on November 22.
Hongjun Lin shared that his ultimate goal is to recreate the sound of the Parasaurolophus, while hoping the project will inspire the scientific community to help decipher the mysteries of the sound world of dinosaurs.
He also mentioned that the dinosaur sounds we hear in movies are actually just a mix of various noises, such as the sounds of turtles mating and the “growl” made by cats.
Filmmakers layer these sounds and alter their speeds to create unique audio effects. Some productions have left a distinct mark, notably the roar of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
