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Tyrannosaurus Rex, also known as T. Rex, was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period. As one of the most famous dinosaurs, it is known for its massive size, sharp teeth, and powerful jaws. T. Rex was the top predator of its time and its name means “tyrant lizard king.” Despite being extinct for millions of years, T. Rex continues to fascinate scientists and the public alike, as they try to uncover more about this ancient creature and its place in history.
Extinct Animals
Tyrannosaurus rex is known as the most famous dinosaur worldwide, and it pops into people’s minds whenever they hear the word “dinosaur.”
In the movie “Jurassic Park” (1993), Sam Neill’s character claimed that Tyrannosaurus’ visual acuity was “based on movement” and that the carnivore wouldn’t be able to see you if you stood still. However, computer scientist Kent Stevens’ research in 2006 proved otherwise. Stevens compared the eye socket orientation of several meat-eating dinos, including T. rex, and found that T. rex had an impressive binocular field of view (BFoV) that was up to 55 degrees wide, which meant that it had great depth perception.
Paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn named the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex in 1905, which means “tyrant lizard king” in Latin and Greek. The name was based on an incomplete skeleton found by Barnum Brown at a Montana dig site in 1902. In 1915, Brown’s T. rex specimen was mounted at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. T. rex has been in the public eye ever since, and it’s the animal that pops into most people’s minds when they think of dinosaurs.
Around 50 individual Tyrannosaurus bones have been discovered in western North America, ranging from isolated backbones to (almost) full skeletons. The most complete one found so far is “Sue” from South Dakota, which is 90% complete and has 250 of the 380 bones that a full-grown Tyrannosaurus would’ve possessed. T. rex could grow up to 40 feet (12.1 meters) in length and had a maximum hip height of roughly 12 feet (3.6 meters). Giganotosaurus, a predatory dinosaur from South America, may have been slightly longer than T. rex, measuring around 41 feet (12.5 meters) from nose to tail.
The Spinosaurus, a fin-backed carnivore from Africa that is believed to be semiaquatic, has gained significant media attention in recent times. According to new fossils discovered, it is estimated that the Spinosaurus is about 52.4 feet (16 meters) long. Estimating the weight of dinosaurs is a difficult task, but one calculation suggests that a fully grown T. rex weighed around 17,000 pounds (about 7,700 kilograms). Despite its theoretical length disadvantage, the T. rex may have been heavier than the Giganotosaurus or the Spinosaurus.
All three dinosaurs, T. rex, Giganotosaurus, and Spinosaurus, belonged to the theropod group, which is a vast and diverse array of dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus was the largest and one of the last tyrannosauroids, which is a subgroup that appeared in Eurasia 170 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. The fossils of T. rex range from 68 to 65.5 million years of age, and the dinosaur was around at the end of the Cretaceous Period, which ended with a mass extinction event 65.5 million years ago. North America was the location where tyrannosauroids first entered, and there is speculation that T. rex may have originated in Asia and later spread to the New World.
Some T. rex skeletons that paleontologists have unearthed were not fully grown animals. It would have taken approximately 20 years for a Tyrannosaurus to reach its maximum size. Adult T. rex had thick banana-shaped teeth, rigid skulls, and powerful jaw muscles, which gave them a punishing bite force of almost 7.1 tons (6.5 metric tons). Adult tyrannosaurus crushed bones, while juvenile ones sliced meat due to their narrow, blade-like teeth and weaker jaws.
Adolescent T. rex had longer arms and legs than their parents. The forelimbs of an adult Tyrannosaurus, which are only about 3 feet (0.9 meters) long, look rather small when compared to the total body size. The function of the appendages is unknown, but they may have been used as “meat hooks” to grasp struggling victims, or they might have helped the dinosaurs hang on to their partners during sex. The legs of the T. rex have also garnered attention as “Jurassic Park” depicted a huge T. rex running after Jeff Goldblum at 45 miles per hour (72.4 kilometers per hour).
The T. rex was not capable of running, as biomechanical research in 2017 revealed that its legs were not built for it. Instead, it was a fast walker, with a speed of up to 12 miles per hour (19.3 kilometers per hour). In addition to being a skilled predator, the T. rex had a strong sense of smell, as shown by the shape of its brain cavity. It ate a variety of animals, including Triceratops, hadrosaurids, and even other T. rex skeletons. It is also believed that the “tyrant lizard king” engaged in cannibalism. An interesting discovery was made when a T. rex tooth was found embedded in the backbone of a hadrosaurid, which had healed around it, indicating that the herbivore survived the attack.
FAQ
1. What is Tyrannosaurus Rex?
Tyrannosaurus Rex, or T. Rex for short, is a species of large, carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. It is one of the most well-known and fearsome dinosaurs to have ever existed, with its powerful jaws, sharp teeth, and massive size.
2. When did Tyrannosaurus Rex live?
Tyrannosaurus Rex lived approximately 68 to 66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. It was one of the last dinosaur species to exist before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
3. How big was Tyrannosaurus Rex?
Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the largest land predators to have ever existed. It could grow up to 40 feet long and weigh up to 9 tons. Its head alone was over 5 feet long and its jaws were capable of delivering a bite force of over 12,000 pounds per square inch.
4. What did Tyrannosaurus Rex eat?
Tyrannosaurus Rex was a carnivore and primarily ate other dinosaurs. Its diet likely consisted of herbivorous dinosaurs such as Triceratops, Edmontosaurus, and Ankylosaurus. It may have also scavenged from carcasses and eaten smaller prey such as lizards and mammals.
5. How did Tyrannosaurus Rex hunt?
Tyrannosaurus Rex was a large and powerful predator that likely used its keen senses, including its excellent vision and sense of smell, to locate prey. It may have also ambushed its prey or chased it down over short distances. Once it caught its prey, it used its powerful jaws and teeth to deliver a fatal bite.
6. Where have Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils been found?
Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils have been found primarily in North America, specifically in the western United States and Canada. However, fossils have also been found in Asia, specifically in Mongolia and China.
7. How did Tyrannosaurus Rex become extinct?
Tyrannosaurus Rex, along with all other non-avian dinosaurs, became extinct approximately 66 million years ago. The most widely accepted theory for their extinction is that a large asteroid impact caused a global climate change that resulted in the loss of their habitat and food sources.
8. What is the significance of Tyrannosaurus Rex in popular culture?
Tyrannosaurus Rex is one of the most well-known dinosaurs and has been featured in countless books, movies, and television shows. Its fearsome reputation and iconic appearance have made it a popular symbol of the prehistoric world and a favorite among dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages.
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