| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name Means | "Tyrant Lizard King" |
| Length | Up to 42 ft (12.8 m) |
| Height | Up to 20 ft (6 m) at hips |
| Weight | 5-7 tons (some estimates higher) |
| Diet | Carnivore (meat-eater) |
| Period | Late Cretaceous (68-66 mya) |
| Found | Western North America |
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the largest land carnivores of all time. Adults typically measured up to 42 feet (12.8 meters) in length, stood about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 meters) tall at the hips, and weighed an estimated 5 to 7 tons, with some studies suggesting even heavier individuals. Its massive skull alone could be over 5 feet long.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
T-Rex was an apex predator, likely employing ambush tactics. Its powerful legs allowed for bursts of speed, and its massive jaws, filled with banana-sized teeth, delivered devastating bites capable of crushing bone. Evidence suggests it preyed on large herbivores like Triceratops and Edmontosaurus. Whether it was solely a predator or also scavenged is debated, but most agree it was an active hunter.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
The T-Rex in "Jurassic Park" became an instant icon. While thrilling, it had some inaccuracies. Its vision was depicted as movement-based ("Don't move!"), but scientific evidence suggests T-Rex had excellent binocular vision. Its roar was also a sound design creation, as we don't know what it truly sounded like. However, the film captured its immense size and terror effectively.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
T-Rex had a massive head with a wide gape, powerful neck muscles, and a bulky body. Its forelimbs were tiny with two functional digits, while its hind limbs were long and powerful. A long, heavy tail acted as a counterbalance. Skin impressions show scaly skin, though some theories suggest juveniles might have had feathers.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
T-Rex was unique for its combination of immense size, incredibly powerful bite force (among the strongest of any land animal), relatively large brain for a dinosaur of its size, and keen senses, including excellent vision and smell. Its disproportionately small arms also make it distinctive among large theropods.
Estimates for T-Rex's top speed vary. Early ideas suggested high speeds, but modern biomechanical studies, considering its massive weight and leg structure, point to a more moderate pace, likely around 10-25 mph (16-40 kph). This was still fast enough to pursue its likely prey but not the cheetah-like speeds once imagined.
For a dinosaur, T-Rex was relatively intelligent. Its encephalisation quotient (EQ), a rough measure of intelligence based on brain-to-body size, was higher than many other large theropods. It had large olfactory bulbs (indicating a good sense of smell) and well-developed optic lobes, suggesting sophisticated sensory processing necessary for a predator.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
Numerous T-Rex fossils have been found in western North America, from Alberta, Canada, down to Texas, USA. Famous specimens include "Sue" at the Field Museum in Chicago (one of the most complete), "Stan" (now privately owned), and "Scotty" (Royal Saskatchewan Museum). These discoveries have provided immense insight into T-Rex anatomy, growth, and behavior.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
Tyrannosaurus Rex belongs to the family Tyrannosauridae, which is part of the larger group Theropoda (bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs). Other tyrannosaurids include Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, and Tarbosaurus. Tyrannosaurids evolved from smaller ancestors and became the dominant large predators in North America and Asia during the Late Cretaceous.
T-Rex was a biped, walking on its two powerful hind legs. Its body was held horizontally, with its long, heavy tail acting as a counterbalance to its massive head. Studies of its tracks and skeletal structure suggest a relatively efficient walking gait for its size, though running would have been energetically expensive.
T-Rex's survival was ensured by a suite of adaptations: bone-crushing bite to maximize food from kills, keen senses (smell and vision) to locate prey, robust build to withstand struggles, and relatively large brain for complex predatory behaviors. Its size alone would have deterred most other predators.
Image source: https://science-resources.co.uk/KS2/Dinosaurs/Tyrannosaurus.html
Our understanding of T-Rex has evolved. Early depictions showed it as a slow, tail-dragging behemoth. Modern research portrays a more agile, dynamic animal with a horizontal posture. Debates continue on topics like its top speed, whether it was feathered, and the exact nature of its predatory behavior (hunter vs. scavenger).
The full scientific name is Tyrannosaurus rex. "Tyrannosaurus" is the genus name, and "rex" is the species name.
T-Rex had two functional, clawed fingers on each of its small forelimbs. A third, smaller metacarpal was present but likely not externally visible or functional.
No, T-Rex was not the biggest dinosaur overall. Long-necked sauropods like Argentinosaurus or Patagotitan were much larger in terms of length and weight. T-Rex was one of the largest *carnivorous* dinosaurs (theropods).
Like other dinosaurs, T-Rex reproduced by laying eggs. Details about its nesting behavior or parental care are inferred from related dinosaurs but not directly known from T-Rex fossils.
An adult T-Rex was an apex predator and likely had no natural predators. However, young or sick individuals might have been vulnerable to other large carnivores or even cannibalism by other T-Rex.
T-Rex, along with all other non-avian dinosaurs, went extinct about 66 million years ago during the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event, widely believed to have been caused by a massive asteroid impact and its catastrophic environmental consequences.
T-Rex had an incredibly powerful bite, estimated to be around 8,000 to 12,800 pounds of force per square inch (psi), or even higher by some studies. This allowed it to crush bones and tear through flesh with ease.
Yes, modern birds are direct descendants of small theropod dinosaurs. T-Rex is more closely related to birds than to other reptiles like crocodiles or lizards. They share many skeletal similarities.
T-Rex had about 50-60 thick, conical, and serrated teeth that were up to 12 inches (30 cm) long (including the root). These teeth were continuously replaced throughout its life.
Theropod ("beast-footed") is a group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs. Most theropods were carnivorous, including T-Rex, Allosaurus, and Velociraptor. Birds are considered to be the only living theropods.