Tyrannosaurus rex
A 40-foot-long predator stomps through a forested valley in what's now western North America, following its nose: The animal sniffs a tasty Triceratops nearby. Moving quickly - about 12 miles an hour - the carnivore catches up to its prey. With one powerful bite, it rips off a hundred pounds of meat. Then it throws its head back, tosses the flesh 15 feet into the air, and catches it to swallow it whole.
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Brainy beast
Other species of tyrannosaurs existed for a hundred million years before T. rex emerged, but these dinosaurs were tiny compared to the giants of the time, such as allosaurs, ceratosaurs, and spinosaurs. (The smallest tyrannosaur, Dilong, was just about five feet long and weighed merely 11 pounds.) Nevertheless, Tyrannosaurus rex stood out as one of the fiercest predators of all time.
T. rex possessed a massive body, a mouth filled with 60 eight-inch-long, razor-sharp teeth, and the most powerful bite of any terrestrial animal ever recorded. Its jaws were capable of crushing a car. Its brain was also notably large, approximately double that of other dinosaur species, implying it may have had superior intelligence, vision, and sense of smell compared to its dinosaur counterparts.
T. rex, which translates from Greek as "tyrant lizard king," ruled over what are now North America and Asia roughly 68 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. However, this "king" ultimately succumbed to the massive asteroid impact that struck Earth about 66 million years ago, devastating the dinosaurs.
Fossil findings
Scientists have been aware of T. rex for more than a century; however, it wasn't until the 1990s that the most complete fossil was unearthed in South Dakota. Named Sue after the fossil hunter who discovered it, this 13-foot-tall dinosaur measures a staggering 42 feet from nose to tail.
While a baby T. rex would have been comparable in size to a small turkey, adults far surpassed these feathered creatures. Sue's skull alone weighs around 600 pounds; during its lifetime, this dinosaur likely tipped the scales at about 18,000 pounds - roughly equivalent to the weight of an RV. If you're curious to learn more, you can visit Sue at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.
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General T. rex Facts
What does the name Tyrannosaurus rex mean?
Tyrannosaurus is Greek for "tyrant lizard," and rex means "king" in Latin. Together, they mean "King of the Tyrant Lizards."
When and where did T. rex live?
T. rex roamed the Earth approximately 66-68 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, specifically in the western United States, which includes regions like Montana and Wyoming.
What was the world like when T. rex was alive?
Present-day Wyoming and Montana are dry and grassy, but they likely resembled a verdant floodplain during the time of T. rex. The global climate was warmer, supporting a thriving ecosystem with diverse plant life and a range of animals, from dinosaurs to mammals to insects.
What did T. rex eat?
Examination of T. rex skulls and teeth indicates that it was a carnivore, likely preying on or scavenging any animal it could catch.
How did T. rex see and hear?
T. rex had sensory perceptions similar to those of its descendants, birds, and crocodiles. Its forward-facing eyes possibly gave it superior depth perception compared to other predatory dinosaurs.
Could T. rex smell?
The olfactory bulbs in T. rex (the area of the brain linked to the sense of smell) were substantial, suggesting that it had an excellent sense of smell akin to other carnivorous dinosaurs.
How quickly did T. rex run?
Recent computer simulations and studies propose that T. rex did not run but could walk at speeds of up to 15 mph, fast enough to pursue and capture other large dinosaurs, which were generally slower.
Why were T. rex's arms so small?
T. rex had remarkably strong arms that ended with two flexible fingers equipped with large claws. While their precise function remains unclear, it is believed that their short length may have evolved to prevent the dinosaur from toppling over as its massive head developed. Another theory suggests that T. rex's heavily muscled head might have replaced their original function, leading to a different evolutionary purpose for the arms.
Was T. rex the biggest land predator ever?
T. rex was indeed the largest bipedal predator in its Late Cretaceous ecosystem and ranks among the largest terrestrial predators ever. Other dinosaurs, such as Carcharodontosaurus, Giganotosaurus, and Spinosaurus, were comparable in size but lived earlier in the Cretaceous Period and belonged to different predatory dinosaur families.
How quickly did T. rex grow?
T. rex exhibited rapid growth rates compared to today's reptiles, reaching full size in less than 20 years. During its growth spurts, it likely gained up to 1,500 pounds annually.
How long did T. rex live?
After reaching adult size, a T. rex could live for about a decade. Based on growth rings found in fossil bones, scientists learned that the longest-living T. rex was 28 years old at death and had endured numerous injuries throughout its life.
How closely is T. rex related to birds?
Birds are actually a subgroup of dinosaurs closely related to T. rex. Both T. rex and birds possess hollow bones and air sacs, with some members of the tyrannosaurid family even having feathers. Both groups trace their roots back to the Jurassic period.
Nation's T. rex Facts
Who owns the Nation's T. rex? And how did it get its name?
Legally, the people of the United States own this dinosaur. Fossils discovered on federal land belong to the U.S. Government, hence the name "Nation's T. rex." Although the Smithsonian is a federal entity, this specimen remains under the supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is loaned for 50 years for exhibition in D.C.
Where and when was the Nation's T. rex found?
In 2002, a Montana rancher named Kathy Wankel stumbled upon a fossil while hiking near the Fort Peck Reservoir. A team of paleontologists from the Museum of the Rockies, led by renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, excavated the fossil from 2003 to 2004, later transferring it to the Museum of the Rockies for preparation and housing.
How old was the Nation's T. rex when it died?
The Nation's T. rex was approximately 18 years old at death, indicating it may not have been fully matured.
How big was the Nation's T. rex?
The Nation's T. rex measured 38 feet (11.6 meters) in length and weighed an estimated 4-5 tons, roughly 8,800-11,000 pounds.
How complete is the Nation's T. rex?
It is one of the most complete T. rex specimens ever discovered, with approximately 85 percent of its skeleton preserved.
Was the Nation's T. rex a male or female?
Scientists are uncertain whether the Nation's T. rex was male or female, as determining the sex of a dinosaur from bone tissue is rare.
How did the Nation's T. rex die?
Like many dinosaurs, evidence of injuries and diseases suggests that the Nation's T. rex suffered throughout its life. However, its precise cause of death remains unknown. It is believed to have died in or near a riverbed, with its carcass likely buried by sediment shortly after its death.
Where will the Nation's T. rex be displayed in the museum's new dinosaur and fossil hall?
The Nation's T. rex will serve as the centerpiece in the new dinosaur and fossil hall, set to open in 2019.
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