Tyrannosaurus (T. rex "Tyrant Lizard") was one of the largest and most ferocious dinosaurs to exist on Earth during the Late Cretaceous Maastrichtian period, approximately 68 to 66 million years ago in what is now North America.
The T-Rex is a carnivorous dinosaur, which 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 it could run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h, although other studies suggest that it was an ambush hunter that attacked its prey from a static position.
It is believed that the T-Rex was a solitary animal, hunting alone and not having many natural predators, however, studies have shown that young T-Rex could be preyed on by other dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor.
Recent paleontological studies have shed new light on the appearance of Tyrannosaurus rex lips. Contrary to what was previously believed, this dinosaur has been found to have thick, fleshy lips, similar to those of a crocodile or hippopotamus. The researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing the jaw fossils of several tyrannosaurs, including one of the most famous and complete specimens, named "Sue." Using CT technology and 3D scanning, 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.
In addition, 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 Tyrannosaurus rex head looked like and how it fed. Its teeth were previously thought to constantly protrude from its gaping, 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 adult T-Rex:
- Scale 1:72 - 170 mm
- Scale 1:35 - 345 mm
