Tyrannosaurus

Tyrannosaurus (/tˌrænəˈsɔːrəs/ or /tˌrænəˈsɔːrəs/, meaning "tyrant lizard", from the Ancient Greek tyrannos (τύραννος), "tyrant", and sauros (σαῦρος), "lizard") is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex (rex meaning "king" in Latin), commonly abbreviated to T. rex, is one of the most well-represented of the large theropods. Tyrannosaurus lived throughout what is now western North America, on what was then an island continent known as Laramidia. Tyrannosaurus had a much wider range than other tyrannosaurids. Fossils are found in a variety of rock formations dating to the Maastrichtian age of the upper Cretaceous Period, 68 to 66 million years ago. It was the last known member of the tyrannosaurids, and among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.

Like other tyrannosaurids, Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail. Relative to its large and powerful hind limbs, Tyrannosaurus fore limbs were short but unusually powerful for their size and had two clawed digits. The most complete specimen measures up to 12.3 m (40 ft) in length, up to 4 meters (13 ft) tall at the hips, and up to 6.8 metric tons (7.5 short tons) in weight. Although other theropods rivaled or exceeded Tyrannosaurus rex in size, it is still among the largest known land predators and is estimated to have exerted the largest bite force among all terrestrial animals. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, Tyrannosaurus rex was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and possibly sauropods. Some experts, however, have suggested the dinosaur was primarily a scavenger. The question of whether Tyrannosaurus was an apex predator or a pure scavenger was among the longest ongoing debates in paleontology. It is accepted now that Tyrannosaurus rex acted as a predator, and scavenged as modern mammalian and avian predators do.

9951 Tyrannosaurus

9951 Tyrannosaurus is an S-type main belt asteroid. It orbits the Sun once every 3.78 years.

Discovered on November 15, 1990 by E. W. Elst it was given the provisional designation "1990 VK5". On November 21, 2002 it was renamed "Tyrannosaurus" after Tyrannosaurus, a genus of large carnivorous dinosaur of the late Cretaceous.

References

External links

  • 9951 Tyrannosaurus at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Discovery · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters
  • Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Latest News for: tyrannosaurus

    New Species of Dinosaur Discovered in Mongolia Reveals Unexpected Evolution

    Greek Reporter 25 Mar 2025
    Life reconstruction of two-fingered hand and sharp, curved claws of Duonychus tsogtbaatari. Credit ... While some meat-eating dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex had two fingers, this marks the first time a therizinosaur has been found with fewer than three.

    3 reasons why you should buy LEGO's epic new Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil skeleton today

    Digital Spy 12 Mar 2025
    Rebirth (so much for the 'end of the Jurassic era'), and you can now bring the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex into your home.LEGO has launched its biggest-ever Jurassic World set with the Dinosaur Fossils. Tyrannosaurus Rex model.
    • 1
    ×