Fun Facts About T-Rex
Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the most well-known and fearsome dinosaurs of all time. Commonly referred to as T. rex, it was a ferocious predator with sharp claws and 60 dagger-like teeth. Each tooth could be up to 8 inches long. Its bite could crunch through bone and is estimated to be 3 times more powerful than a lion's bite, making T. rex the ultimate carnivore! Tyrannosaurus rex lived during the Late Cretaceous in western North America. Here are some more fun facts about T. rex:
- Tyrannosaurus rex means tyrant lizard king.
- It roamed parts of the USA and Canada about 66-68 million years ago.
- T. rex could be up to 40 feet long and 12 feet tall.
- An adult T. rex could be as long as a school bus and weigh as much as an RV (5-8 tons).
- It could run 12 miles per hour.
- Its brain was twice as big as many other giant carnivores.
- Tyrannosaurus rex used its large tail to stay balanced.
- T. rex had notoriously short arms. Some scientists hypothesize its arms became shorter over time as its head grew larger to prevent it from becoming top-heavy.
- Tyrannosaurus rex had keen senses. It probably had vision better than eagles and hawks with softball-sized eyes and the second most powerful sense of smell (just behind turkey vultures).
- The oldest known specimen lived to be 28 years old. Scientists estimate age by looking at growth rings in fossil bones.
- Stan is a famous T. rex found in Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota. 70% of its skeleton was recovered, making it is one of the most complete T. rex skeletons found.
- There is evidence that Stan sustained injuries caused by parasites and even another T. rex.
Despite its massive size and predatory advantages, Tyrannosaurus rex did not survive the mass extinction event that wiped out most living things on Earth 66 million years ago. Today we rely heavily on fossils to understand this apex predator, and our knowledge is ever-evolving as new discoveries are made!
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