Tyrannosaurus

Error creating thumbnail:

Tyrannosaurus Rex Holotype

AMNH 3982 Manospondylus

Tyrannosaurus skeleton

Dynamosaurus holotype

FMNH SUE Trex

Scotty Tyrannosaurus

Tyrannosaurus is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 68 to 66 million years ago during the late Cretaceous Period, in what is now western North America. The name Tyrannosaurus means "tyrant lizard", derived from the Ancient Greek tyrannos (τύραννος), meaning "tyrant", and sauros (σαῦρος), meaning "lizard". The most famous species of this genus is Tyrannosaurus rex (rex meaning "king" in Latin), commonly abbreviated to T. rex.

Description

Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest land carnivores of all time. It measured up to 12.3 meters (40 feet) in length, up to 3.66 meters (12 feet) tall at the hips, and could weigh up to 14 metric tons (15.4 short tons). The massive skull of T. rex was balanced by a long, heavy tail. Its forelimbs were short and bore two clawed fingers, with an additional smaller digit.

Discovery and Naming

The first Tyrannosaurus fossils were discovered in 1902 by Barnum Brown in Montana, USA. The genus was named by Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History, in 1905. Since then, over 50 specimens of T. rex have been identified, some of which are nearly complete skeletons.

Paleobiology

Tyrannosaurus was likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and possibly other tyrannosaurids. Evidence suggests that it was both a hunter and a scavenger. Studies of its jaw mechanics show that T. rex had an extremely powerful bite, capable of breaking the bones of its prey. Its keen sense of smell would have been advantageous for both hunting and scavenging.

Classification

Tyrannosaurus belongs to the family Tyrannosauridae, which is part of the superfamily Theropoda. Within this group, it is closely related to other large tyrannosaurids such as Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus.

In Popular Culture

Tyrannosaurus rex has become an iconic dinosaur, featuring prominently in literature, film, and other media. It was famously depicted in the Jurassic Park series, where it was portrayed as a formidable predator. This representation has contributed significantly to the public's fascination with dinosaurs and paleontology.

See Also

• Dinosaur
• Cretaceous Period
• Theropod
• Paleontology