Learn about the giant dinosaur predator.

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Tyrannosaurus Rex "Stan"
Author: akhenatenator, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most famous and notable dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex is a type of theropod dinosaur. Many fossils of the Tyrannosaurus have been found allowing scientists to learn more and more about how big it was, how it hunted, and how it lived.

How big was the Tyrannosaurus Rex?

The Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the largest of the land predator dinosaurs. The T-rex measured up to 43 feet long and weighed as much as 7.5 tons. The dinosaur is often used in movie and films such as Jurassic Park due to its size and overall fearsome image.

Tyrannosaurus Rex Size Comparison
Author: oktaytanhu via Wikimedia How did it walk?

The Tyrannosaurus rex was a bipedal dinosaur. This means that it walked and ran on two legs. These two legs were large and strong to carry the immense weight of the dinosaur. In contrast, the arms of the T-rex were relatively small. Although, it is thought that the small arms were very strong in order to hold onto prey.

One of the more fearsome aspects of the Tyrannosaurus is its massive skull and large teeth. T-rex skulls have been found that are as long as 5 feet! Other evidence shows that the Tyrannosaurus had a very powerful bite which, coupled with sharp teeth, could easily crush the bones of other dinosaurs.

What did the Tyrannosaurus Rex eat?

The T-rex ate meat from other animals and dinosaurs, however, there is much debate over whether the Tyrannosaurus Rex was a predator (hunted and killed it's own food) or whether it was a scavenger (meaning it stole food from other predators). Many scientists think that the dinosaur did both. A lot depends on how fast the dinosaur was. Some say the T-Rex was fast and could easily catch its own meals. Others say that the dinosaur was slow and would use its fearsome jaws to scare off other predators and take their kills.

Where can I see a Tyrannosaurus Rex on display?

There are numerous significant specimens of the Tyrannosaurus in museums throughout the world. One of the largest and most complete is "Sue" at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Another major T-Rex specimen is "Stan" at Black Hills Museum of Natural History Exhibit in Hill City, South Dakota. Also, paleontologist Barnum Brown's largest Tyrannosaurus find (he found 5 in all) can be seen at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The only documented track of a Tyrannosaurus Rex can be found at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Tyrannosaurus Rex Skull
Author: A.E. Anderson Other interesting T-Rex facts:

The Tyrannosaurus had a life span of around 30 years.
Tyrannosaurus is from the Greek word meaning Tyrant Lizard
The dinosaur has many similar features to birds. One thought is that they were warm-blooded like birds, rather than cold-blooded like reptiles.
Its arms were too short to reach its mouth.
It lived in North America in river valleys and forests.
It could probably eat as much as 500 pounds of meat in a single bite.
The Chicago museum purchased the famous Tyrannosaurus Sue fossil for $8 million.
Their babies may have been covered in feathers.

For more about Dinosaurs:

Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) - Giant plant eater.
Stegosaurus - Dinosaur with cool plates on its back.
Tyrannosaurus Rex - All sorts of info on the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Triceratops - Learn about the giant skulled three horned dinosaur.
Velociraptor - Birdlike dinosaur that hunted in packs.

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