Tyrannosaurus rex is the largest predatory dinosaur: description with photos and videos. Deadly Tyrannosaurus T-Rex (Tyrannosaurus, T-Rex) Tyrannosaurus rex description
Niramin - May 30th, 2016
Tyrannosaurus (order lizard, family Tyrannosauridae) is one of the most famous dinosaurs who lived in the last era Cretaceous period, 68 − 65 million years ago. He was one of the largest, if not the largest, among the giant lizards. The body length of these animals averaged 12 m, height - 6 m, and weight - 7 tons. Strong, saw-toothed teeth measuring about 15 cm reliably held prey. The powerful and mobile neck contrasted with the tiny forelimbs, which had two fingers.
Scientists suggest that tyrannosaurs ate in much the same way as modern lions, that is, they hunted herbivorous representatives of the flora and did not neglect carrion. Most often, their victims were duck-billed dinosaurs. Since the latter ran quickly, the predators attacked them from ambush.
Zoologists have long wondered why this carnivore had such short front legs. Most believe they were used to get up after sleep.
Fossils in the form of several Tyrannosaurus rex teeth were found back in the 19th century. However, it was not possible to determine who they belonged to. Only in 1905, when archaeologists excavated two almost complete skeletons, the British scientist Osborne gave this species of lizard its name (Tyrannosaurus rex) and described them.
Remains giant predators found in the USA (Montana, Texas and Wyoming), Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan), Mongolia in Asia. In 2011, Chinese scientists discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton with feather imprints in Liaoning province and suggested that it probably belonged to a juvenile, and the primitive plumage served to protect against the cold.
Tyrannosaurus rex in pictures and photos:
Photo: Tyrannosaurus rex - skeleton. 
Video: Tyrannosaurus Rex T-Rex
Video: Tyrannosaurus Rex: King Of Dinosaurs
At the end of 1905, newspapermen wrote excitedly about the bones of a prehistoric monster that paleontologists had unearthed in the badlands of Montana. The New York Times presented the "tyrant lizard" as the most fearsome fighting animal in history. More than a hundred years have passed, and Tyrannosaurus rex continues to excite the imagination of the public and paleontologists.
More than 12 meters from snout to tail, dozens of sharp teeth the size of a rail spike: the 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus is not just one of prehistoric predators, but an icon of ancient horror. He is so charismatic that a routine paleontological discussion can be blown out of proportion.
This happened last year: a group of paleontologists presented their views on the fact that T. rex was not so much a hunter as a scavenger. The media presented this as a sensation, which infuriated paleontologists. In fact, the issue has long been resolved: enough evidence has been collected that suggests that the dinosaur not only ran after prey, but also did not disdain carrion.
What is discussed is what role living and dead animals played in his diet. What's especially annoying is that this one is not the most important problem hid other, more interesting aspects from the public.
For example, the origin of dinosaurs remains a mystery. Researchers cannot yet determine which of the tiny dinosaurs Jurassic period(201-145 million years ago) the kings of the Cretaceous period (145-66 million years ago) grew up. What T. rex looked like as a juvenile is heavily debated, with suspicions that some specimens described decades ago as distinct species are actually juveniles of other species.
Even the appearance of the tyrannosaurus remains controversial: many argue that the giant body was covered with fluff and feathers, and not scales. The scandalous question of why the animal had such a massive head and legs, but tiny forelimbs, has not gone away.
Fortunately, there is enough material. “There are plenty of fossils,” reports Stephen Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh (UK). “It’s rare that so many good specimens remain from one species.” With T. rex, we can ask questions about how it grew, what it ate, how it moved; We can’t ask that for many other dinosaurs.”
In the first decades after Henry Fairfield Osborn named and described Tyrannosaurus rex, paleontologists saw it as the culmination of the rise of land carnivores. Therefore, T. rex was considered a descendant of Allosaurus, a 9-meter predator that lived more than 80 million years earlier. Both of them, along with other carnivorous giants, were grouped into the taxon Carnosauria, with T. rex considered the last and largest representative of the ferocious family.
But in the 1990s, a more rigorous research method, cladistic analysis, began to be used, and the evolutionary relationships between dinosaur groups were reconsidered. It turned out that the ancestors of T. rex were small furry creatures that lived in the shadow of Allosaurus and other predators of the Jurassic period.
According to new thinking, T. rex and its closest relatives (Tyrannosauridae) represent the top branch of a large evolutionary "bush" called Tyrannosauroidea, which arose about 165 million years ago. Among the earliest members of this group is Stokesosaurus clevelandi, a 2-3 m long bipedal predator that lived about 150 million years ago.
Little is known about this creature, but other early tyrannosauroids provide evidence: Stokesosaurus most likely had a long, low skull and thin forelimbs. In the Jurassic size hierarchy, early tyrannosauroids were at the very bottom. “By today's standards, they were at the level of lap dogs,” Mr. Brusatte jokes.
How did it happen that over time, tyrannosaurs ended up at the top of the food chain? North America and Asia? So far history is silent about this. A very small number of rocks aged 90-145 million years have been found (it was during this period that tyrannosaurs crushed their competitors), so the biodiversity of those times has been reconstructed very fragmentarily. Nothing can be said about changes in sea level and climate in general, which could lead to the dominance of this particular group.
IN Lately The main focus of paleontologists studying this time interval is on China. In 2009, Peter Makovicki of the Field Museum in Chicago (USA) and his colleagues described a long-snouted tyrannosaurus called Xiongguanlong baimoensis, which was found in western China in rocks formed 100-125 million years ago.
The animal reached almost four meters in length - a solid step forward compared to the tyrannosaurs of the Jurassic period. And in 2012, Xu Xing from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (PRC) and his colleagues described a 9-meter tyrannosaurus named Yutyrannus huali, which belongs to the same era.
Perhaps this was a decisive time interval when tyrannosaurs and allosaurs fought to the death for the same ecological niches. In rocks from northern China, Mr. Brusatte and his colleagues found the 5-6 m long allosaurus Shaochilong maortuensis, which lived about 90 million years ago, that is, the size of the competitors was approximately the same. But exactly when and why the tyrannosaurs won remains unknown.
It’s just not interesting to portray our hero. He's definitely fighting with someone! (Fig. ameeeeba.)
The situation is similar with what T. rex looked like in its youth. At the center of the debate is Nanotyrannus lancensis, found in the same North American sediments as T. rex, and possibly growing 6 m in length. At first it was considered a separate species, but some researchers see it as a juvenile T. rex.
According to Thomas Holtz Jr. of the University of Maryland, College Park, USA, the differences between N. lancensis and T. rex are reminiscent of the differences between juveniles and adults of other tyrannosaur species. It should be noted that all nanotyranus samples seem to be “minor” to him.
Lawrence Whitmer of Ohio University (USA) doesn't think so. In 2010, he and his colleague Ryan Ridgeley, based on the results of studying the method computed tomography skulls from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (the holotype of N. lancensis) revealed unusual depressions in the braincase and paranasal sinuses nose in the back of the skull, where the air sacs were located during the life of the dinosaur. These formations make this specimen very different from T. rex, which makes it possible to classify the specimen as a different species.
In addition to the above, Peter Larson, president of the Black Hills Geological Research Institute (USA), argues that nanotyranus teeth have too fine serrations and are too tightly packed. He also points out differences in the anatomy of the glenoid cavity of the scapula and the openings in the skull.
However, critics have noted that some of this information was gleaned from the analysis of fossils that have not yet been described in the literature. scientific literature. Moreover, scientists may even lose one of the key samples of nanotyranus, because it will be auctioned in New York in November.
The hype did its job: it is estimated that the specimen will bring the owner $9 million. Most paleontologists simply refuse to take into account such fossils that are not freely available in a respected museum. Is it possible that some private owner will have the audacity to rob science?
“In this situation, there is only one thing left to do - to again advise in a tired voice to look for other samples,” Mr. Whitmer says. For Nanotyranus to be definitively recognized as a separate species, either a juvenile T. rex would need to be found, more similar to the adult than Nanotyranus, or the remains of an animal that was undoubtedly an adult Nanotyranus and clearly different from T. rex. But Mr. Whitmer is pessimistic about the chances of ending the debate: "I don't know how much data it will take to convince everyone." T. rex is too charismatic, and views on it have already been formed, so paleontologists will not simply abandon their usual opinion.
Another example of this is the controversy regarding appearance our hero. From generation to generation he was depicted as covered with scales like modern reptiles, although they are very distant relatives. But in the last two decades, specimens of many groups of dinosaurs with feathers and fur have been discovered in China. Some of them belong to species closely related to T. rex.
In 2004, Mr. Xu described a small early tyrannosaurus, Dilong paradoxus, with fiber impressions around the tail, jaw and other parts of the body. Is it really a down coat? The giant Y. huali was also feathered. The feathers of tyrannosaurs were not the same as those of modern birds, but their primitive predecessors. According to Mr. Xu, they served primarily as decoration and were later used for thermal insulation. It is possible that T. rex also proudly wore some kind of proto-feathers.
No, no one wants to say that T. rex was like a chicken. We are talking about thin fibers, a kind of hairs - for example, on the muzzle.
Since not a single skin print of T. rex has been found, these are all just assumptions, which is what skeptics use. Thomas Carr from Carthage College (USA) refers to skin prints of species close to T. rex that have not yet been described in the scientific literature. y, on which the scales are supposedly clearly visible. Well, it's possible that early tyrannosauroids had feathers, but the subgroup of tyrannosaurids that includes T. rex evolved to abandon them in favor of scales.
The question of feathers is very important not only for artists who no longer know how to depict the ancient miracle of Yudo. If there were feathers, then we can assume some kind of mating games and talk about how the tyrannosaurus regulated its body temperature.
Another secret is the giant’s small hands. They are so short that you can’t even reach your mouth with them. Paleontologists have everything in order with their imagination, and over a hundred years the most exotic hypotheses have been put forward: they say, it was convenient to squeeze a partner in your arms during mating or climb steep slopes. Gradually, the opinion became established that the forelimbs were a rudiment. Countless cartoonists to this day depict tyrannosaurs, which are haunted by one embarrassment after another on this basis.
But Sarah Birch from Ohio University (USA) believes that such jokes are unfair. She studied the muscles of crocodiles and the only living descendants of dinosaurs - birds. If T. rex's arms were indeed useless vestiges, they would not have had any significant muscles, but the fossils show evidence that quite a bit of muscle was attached to the bones.
So T. rex used its arms. But for what? Grabbed and held certain objects (for example, prey), as all other theropods did?
Mr. Holtz has a different idea. Muscle strength estimates suggest that these short arms They were still relatively weak weapons. And since specimens were found with healed fractures of the forelimbs, the scientist concludes that they did not play vitally important role. One thing remains: short arms could be useful during mating games. Who knows, what if they were shrouded in colorful feathers?..
T. rex (Tyrannosaurus Rex) is by far the most popular dinosaur that has lived on our planet. He became the hero of a huge number of books, films, television shows and even video games.
For a very long time, T-Rex was considered the most powerful carnivore that ever walked the Earth.
10 Little-Known Facts About T-Rex
1. Tyrannosaurus Rex Wasn't the Largest Carnivorous Dinosaur
Most people subconsciously believe that the North American Tyrannosaurus Rex, measuring 12 meters from head to tail and weighing up to 9 tons, was the largest carnivorous dinosaur that ever walked the planet. However interesting fact is that in ancient times there were two types of dinosaurs that were larger than T. rex - the South American Giganotosaurus, which weighed about nine tons and grew up to 14 meters long, and the North African Spinosaurus, which weighed more than 10 tons. Unfortunately, these theropods never had the opportunity to fight among themselves, since they lived in different time and in different lands, they were separated by thousands of miles and millions of years.
2. T-Rex's front legs weren't as tiny as many people assume.
One anatomical feature The thing that many people make fun of about Tyrannosaurus Rex is its front legs, which appear disproportionately tiny compared to the rest of its massive body. But in fact, T. rex's front legs were more than 1 meter long and may have been capable of lifting up to 200 kg.
You will be interested to know that the most cartoonish - tiny front legs belong to the giant Carnotaurus. His arms looked like tiny bumps.
3. T-Rex had very bad breath.
Of course, most dinosaurs Mesozoic era had no opportunity to brush their teeth, and very few of them had teeth. Some experts believe that the remains of rotten meat infected with bacteria that were constantly present between the terrible teeth made the T. rex bite poisonous. Such a bite would infect (and ultimately kill) the bitten victim. The problem is that this process would likely take days or weeks.
4. Female T-Rexes were larger than males.
We don't know for sure yet, but there is good reason to believe (based on the size of T. rex fossils found and the shape of their hips) that female T. rex outsized their males by 800 kg, which is a sign of sexual dimorphism.
For what? Most probable cause is that females of the species had to lay huge eggs, which is why evolution gave females such large hips, or perhaps females were simply more experienced hunters than males (as is the case with modern lions) and consumed more food.
5. The average lifespan of a T-Rex was about 30 years.
It is difficult to infer the lifespan of dinosaurs from their fossilized remains, but based on analysis of skeletal specimens found, paleontologists suggest that Tyrannosaurus Rex may have lived for up to 30 years. Since this dinosaur was at the top of the food chain of its range, its death was most likely due to old age, disease, or starvation, rather than from fights with predators. It was very rare for a tyrannosaurus to die from the teeth of another predator when it was too young and weak. (By the way, in parallel with T. Rex, Titanosaurs may have lived, whose weight exceeded 50 tons, their life expectancy was about 100 years!)
6. T-Rex hunted and picked up carrion
For years, paleontologists debated whether T. rex was brutal killer, or a banal scavenger, that is, did he actively hunt, or pick up the carcasses of dinosaurs that died of old age or disease? Today these contradictions seem quite strange, since Tyrannosaurus Rex could use these two methods of food simultaneously, like any massive predatory animal that constantly wanted to satisfy its hunger.
7. T. rex subspecies Hatchlings may have been covered in feathers
We all know that dinosaurs are the ancestors of birds, and that some carnivorous dinosaurs (especially raptors) were covered in feathers. Consequently, some paleontologists believe that all tyrannosaurs, including T. rex, must have been covered in feathers at some point in their history. life cycle, most likely when they first hatched from their eggs. This conclusion is supported by the discovery of feathered Asian tyrannosaurs such as Dilong and the nearly equal T. rex Yutyrannus.
8. Tyrannosaurus Rex, most of all loved to hunt Triceratops
If you think that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was the most brutal boxing fight, then you are sorely mistaken. Imagine a hungry eight-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex attacking a five-ton Triceratops! Such an unthinkable fight could certainly have happened, since both of these dinosaurs lived in the late Cretaceous period in the lands of North America. Of course, the average T. Rex would prefer to take care of a sick or recently hatched Triceratops. But if he was too hungry, large individuals also became his victims.
Back in 1996, a team of scientists from Stanford University who studied the skull of this dinosaur determined that T. rex bit its prey with a force of 700 to 1400 kg. per square inch, with the same force that the largest modern alligators bite. More detailed studies of the skulls showed that its bite force was in the range of 2,300 kilograms per square inch. (By comparison, the average adult can bite with about 80 lbs. per inch of force.) The powerful jaws of T. Rex could even bite through the horns of Ceratopses itself!
10. Tyrannosaurus Rex was originally named Manospondylus
When famed paleontologist Edward Pinker Cope unearthed the first fossilized skeleton of T. rex, in 1892, he called the find "Manospondylus gigax - Greek" (giant slender vertebrae). After further impressive fossil exploration, it was then-president of the American Museum of Natural History, Henry Fairfield Osborne, who gave the immortal name Tyrannosaurus Rex, the "tyrannical lizard king."
(68-65 million years ago)
His sense of smell was better developed than most other dinosaurs, and his vision was so sharp that even a hawk could not compare with him. Plus, it was binocular, he could look in different directions, and the picture was reunited into one whole, which made it possible to determine the distance to the victim with sufficient accuracy, which the larger Giganotosaurus did not have.
Tyrannosaurus is perhaps the best known of all Cretaceous carnivores. He was one of the largest land predators; his main weapon was considered to be his mouth with powerful jaw and strong teeth.
What did they eat and what kind of lifestyle did they lead?
There were several opinions about how and what this huge lizard ate: only carrion or did it attack other dinosaurs and reptiles. Most scientists agreed that he hunted smaller representatives of the animal world, although he did not disdain to profit from carrion. This was decided only after tyrannosaurus rex bite marks were found on the skeletons of other dinosaurs. They were so bloodthirsty that they did not hesitate to attack their own kind. It was later discovered that tyrannosaurs often had to fight for territory with other large carnivores. The eye sockets also indicate its predatory nature.Details about the body structure
The skin was scaly, like that of lizards. His posture was slightly inclined, but even so, this bloodthirsty giant could easily look into the window of today's three-story house.
Dimensions
It could reach 13m in length, on average -12mHeight 5-5.5m
Body weight: was quite large - from 6 to 7 tons
Head
The largest skull reached 1m 53cm in length. The shape of the skull: wide at the back, and narrowing at the front; when viewed from above, together with the jaws it resembles the letter U. The brain is small in size, and in terms of intelligence it could be compared with a crocodile.
The teeth were very sharp and long (15-30 cm in length, the longest of all existing saurians). The bite was very powerful, the pressure of several tons was 15 times greater than the bite force of a lion. With the help of his jaws he could crush any bones and even skulls; his enemies almost never survived a bite.
Limbs
There were four limbs, but it moved only on 2 hind ones, the two front ones were small and completely undeveloped, unlike Spinosaurus. The usual speed is up to 20 km/h; if necessary, the tyrannosaurus could reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. The tail helped to maintain balance, and could also be a murder weapon - with its help one could easily break the spine or cervical vertebrae. The hind legs were also very powerful, with 4 toes. 3 of them were support ones, and the last one didn't even touch the ground.Video about tyrannosaurs No. 1.
Video No. 2.
Fight with King Kong (from the movie King Kong).
Tyrannosaurus fight.
For for long years humanity is interested in the origin and study of dinosaurs. Huge, powerful, but at the same time amazing creatures inspire horror and respect in any of us. There is about the emergence of dinosaurs.
Tyrannosaurus: a predatory dinosaur
The most famous among predators is the tyrannosaurus, better known to us from films and books. He is a symbol of paleontology and an image of primordial power and strength.
According to the scientific classification, tyrannosaurus and several other species similar to it in anthropological characteristics form the so-called group of tyrannosaurids. Of all the species that are included in this group, the most similar to a tyrannosaurus is Tarbosaurus.
Scientists claim that tyrannosaurs lived in North America approximately 65-67 million years ago, that is, at the end of the Cretaceous period. Paleontologists put forward their theory that tyrannosaurs are the prototype of their ancestors - raptorex, which lived in the territory. Raptorex reached a height of 3 meters and weighed about 80 kg, but they are associated with tyrannosaurs general structure bodies and skulls.
There are several predators that lived on planet Earth even before the Cretaceous period and are superior to tyrannosaurs in size and power.
These dinosaurs are usually classified in the following order:
- Spinosaurus.
- Carcharadontosaurus.
- Gigantosaurus.
They are the most dangerous and strong predators among their own kind.
Power and characteristics
Tyrannosaurs fed primarily on fish, but due to their speed and strength they could pursue prey for some distance, moving like ostriches. This is evidenced by the found paw prints. Tyrannosaurs were characterized by powerful cheekbones and jaws, but their front legs were very small. They moved with the help of massive hind legs and a tail, which helped maintain balance. The front paws had two toes, and the hind paws had 4.
It is a pity that historians only put forward hypotheses. These are very unique and interesting creatures, and studying them requires enormous effort and perseverance.
Gigantosaurus
Remains ancient dinosaur were discovered in 1995, and according to scientists' measurements, Gigantosaurus is one of the ancestors of Tyrannosaurus. The animal had small front paws and a massive neck and jaw. The method of transportation was small jumps on the hind legs.
Power and sizes
Gigantosaurs ate mainly fish and meat, as well as carrion. According to the age of dinosaurs, they lived side by side with a huge number of sauropods. Some of them had bony plates on their backs that provided them with protection from attacks from above.
If we compare the dimensions and power, the tyrannosaurus would have been defeated against the gigantosaurus, since its ancestor was more developed and adapted to environment. Since Gigantosaurus lived before its neighbors were no less powerful creatures with whom it had to fight for a place in the sun.
In 1995, the discovery of a gigantosaurus was announced to the world, and this news created a real sensation. For many years, paleontologists believed that the largest and most massive dinosaur was the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The discovery immediately refuted these versions. Tyrannosaurus was inferior to Gigantosaurus in size and skeletal length. Paleontologists from Argentina provided the world with information that the length of the Gigantosaurus skeleton is much greater than that of its predecessor.
Based on the remains found nearby, historians have theorized that the animals moved and fed in groups. In early 2000, scientists and paleontologists from Argentina and Canada announced the discovery of an early relative of Gigantosaurus. In 2006, it received a new name - Mapusaurus - and was several times larger than Tyrannosaurus and Gigantosaurus.
To the question: "Who is bigger - a tyrannosaurus or a giganotosaurus?" - we can confidently answer that it is a gigantosaurus. First of all, based on the data of scientists, it is the gigantosaurus that is the ancestor of the tyrannosaurus, since it lived on our planet even before the Cretaceous period.
So who has the advantage when it comes to Tyrannosaurus vs. Giganotosaurus? These dinosaurs are very similar in structure and skull shape, however, the length of the gigantosaurus skeleton is 13.5 meters, while that of the tyrannosaurus is 12.5 meters.
