The Tyrannosaurus Rex or “T-Rex” was a massive carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in present-day North America. It was one of the largest known land predators of its time, bearing close resemblance to other theropod dinosaurs such as the Allosaurus and Carnotaurus.
The T-Rex was characterized by its large skull, which could reach up to 5 feet in length, and its massive teeth, some of which were up to 12 inches long.
Key Facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Tyrannosaurus rex pronunciation | tye-RAN-uh-SAWR-us-REX |
| What does Tyrannosaurus rex mean? | Tyrant Lizard King |
| Dinosaur type | Theropod |
| On the menu | Carnivorous |
| Length | 13 meters |
| Height | 4 meters |
| Weight | 9 tons |
| Life expectancy | 30 years |
| Legs used to get around | Bipedal |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown |
| When they lived | Late Cretaceous era, 66-68 million years ago |
| Where they have been found? | USA, Canada |
When & Where
In 1900, Barnum Brown discovered what he thought was the first Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil in Wyoming, USA. Two years later, he discovered a second T- Rex fossil in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana, USA. These discoveries were later named Dynamosaurus imperiosus and Tyrannosaurus rex, respectively, in 1905 by the president of the American Museum of Natural History, Henry Fairfield Osborn.
Scientists have since unearthed more than 50 Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons from sites across North America, making it one of the best-represented dinosaurs in the fossil record. In fact, in 2005, a team of researchers led by Mary Schweitzer of North Carolina State University discovered soft tissue, including blood vessels and proteins, in a 68-million-year-old T. rex fossil. This discovery provided scientists with unprecedented insight into the biology of this long-extinct dinosaur.
Size & Weight
The Tyrannosaurus was a massive dinosaur, measuring up to 40 feet long and weighing up to 9 tons. It was one of the largest known land predators of its time, surpassed in size only by a handful of other theropod dinosaurs, such as the Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus.
Its size helped to make it one of the most feared predators of its time, as it would have been able to take down even the largest prey animals. However, its size may have also been a disadvantage, as it would have taken a lot of energy to move its massive body around.
Mobility & Diet
Like the rest of the theropod dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus rex was a bipedal creature, meaning that it walked on two legs. It is thought that its long tail helped to counterbalance its large body, allowing it to move more easily. The forelimbs were also greatly reduced in size, only measuring about the same length as an extended human arm.
The T-Rex was a carnivorous dinosaur that fed on other animals for sustenance. It had a massive skull that housed large, sharp teeth, which it used to tear its prey apart. It is thought that the T-Rex could eat up to 500 pounds of meat in a single bite!
Interesting Points
- The T. Rex is one of the most famous dinosaurs, having been featured in countless books, films, and television shows. Thanks to the abundant fossil evidence, it is also one of the most scientifically studied dinosaurs.
- This dinosaur could apply up to 30 tons of pressure per square centimeter of teeth surface when its jaws snapped shut – the most powerful bite of any land animal that has ever lived.
- Up to 60 % of all Tyrannosaurus rex fossils recovered by scientists have been found to contain evidence of broken bones, which may have resulted from fighting.
- In October 2020, a T. rex fossil named “Stan” sold for $31.8 million at an auction at Christie’s, making it the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold.
Featured Image Credit: Steveoc 86, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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