Tyrannosaurus (T. rex "Tyrant Lizard") was one of the largest and fiercest dinosaurs that existed on Earth during the Maastrichtian period of the Late Cretaceous, approximately 68 to 66 million years ago in what is now North America.
The T-Rex is a carnivorous dinosaur that could measure up to 12 meters long and weigh around 7 tons. It had a large nasal opening, a short, strong snout, and a jaw with more than 50 razor-sharp teeth, which could measure up to 30 centimeters in length.
The T-Rex's habitat was tropical forests and plains and it fed on other herbivorous dinosaurs, such as Triceratops and Edmontosaurus.
In terms of posture, Tyrannosaurus rex stood upright on its hind legs and had a long, muscular tail that helped it balance. It is thought that he could run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h, although other studies suggest that he was an ambush hunter who attacked his prey from a static position.
It is believed that the T-Rex was a solitary animal, which hunted alone and did not have many natural predators, however, studies have shown that young T-Rex could be prey for other dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor.
Recent paleontological studies have shed new light on the appearance of Tyrannosaurus rex's lips. Contrary to what was previously believed, it has been discovered that this dinosaur had thick, fleshy lips, similar to those of a crocodile or a hippopotamus.
The researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing jaw fossils from several tyrannosaurs, including one of the most famous and complete specimens, called "Sue." Using computed tomography technology and 3D scans, they were able to recreate the internal structure of the jaw and determine that there was enough space to accommodate soft, flexible tissue, such as the lips.
Additionally, the researchers found evidence of small bony ridges on the surface of the jaw, which could have helped the lips stay in place and protect the jaw while feeding. Microscopic remains of soft tissue and collagen fibers were also found on the surface of some Tyrannosaurus rex teeth, suggesting that the lips may have protected the teeth from wear and tear.
These findings are important because they change our perception of what the head of Tyrannosaurus rex looked like and how it fed. Its teeth were previously thought to constantly protrude from its open, lipless jaw, as seen in most depictions of the creature. We now know that the lips may have covered the teeth at rest and protected the jaw during chewing, suggesting that Tyrannosaurus rex may have been more careful and selective in its feeding than previously thought.
Approximate measurements of the Tyrannosaurus rex:
The T-Rex is a carnivorous dinosaur that could measure up to 12 meters long and weigh around 7 tons. It had a large nasal opening, a short, strong snout, and a jaw with more than 50 razor-sharp teeth, which could measure up to 30 centimeters in length.
The T-Rex's habitat was tropical forests and plains and it fed on other herbivorous dinosaurs, such as Triceratops and Edmontosaurus.
In terms of posture, Tyrannosaurus rex stood upright on its hind legs and had a long, muscular tail that helped it balance. It is thought that he could run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h, although other studies suggest that he was an ambush hunter who attacked his prey from a static position.
It is believed that the T-Rex was a solitary animal, which hunted alone and did not have many natural predators, however, studies have shown that young T-Rex could be prey for other dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor.
Recent paleontological studies have shed new light on the appearance of Tyrannosaurus rex's lips. Contrary to what was previously believed, it has been discovered that this dinosaur had thick, fleshy lips, similar to those of a crocodile or a hippopotamus.
The researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing jaw fossils from several tyrannosaurs, including one of the most famous and complete specimens, called "Sue." Using computed tomography technology and 3D scans, they were able to recreate the internal structure of the jaw and determine that there was enough space to accommodate soft, flexible tissue, such as the lips.
Additionally, the researchers found evidence of small bony ridges on the surface of the jaw, which could have helped the lips stay in place and protect the jaw while feeding. Microscopic remains of soft tissue and collagen fibers were also found on the surface of some Tyrannosaurus rex teeth, suggesting that the lips may have protected the teeth from wear and tear.
These findings are important because they change our perception of what the head of Tyrannosaurus rex looked like and how it fed. Its teeth were previously thought to constantly protrude from its open, lipless jaw, as seen in most depictions of the creature. We now know that the lips may have covered the teeth at rest and protected the jaw during chewing, suggesting that Tyrannosaurus rex may have been more careful and selective in its feeding than previously thought.
Approximate measurements of the Tyrannosaurus rex:
- Scale 1:35 - 50 mm
- Scale 1:20 - 90 mm
