Tyrannosaurus Rex
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Tyrannosaurus Rex
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Tyrannosaurus rex, meaning "king of the tyrant lizards," was the largest, and probably most terrifying carnivorous animal of all time. It lived in the Cretaceous period 140 million years ago. Tyrannosaurus rex was an impressive creature that roamed the earth for 70 million years. At 25 feet in height, it towered over most other dinosaurs and stalked around menacingly on its enormous hind limbs. It belonged to the flesh eating group of dinosaurs called Carnosaurs.
Reproduction: The nearest living relative of T. rex is the crocodile, which shows some parental care care. Like the crocodile, T rex laid eggs, probably in a hole in the ground dug out with its hind feet. Unlike the crocodile, however , it is doubtful that it showed any parental care. T rex was such a fierce predator that it seems more likely that it would have been cannibalistic toward its young. For its size, T rex laid relatively small eggs. It would have been necessary for T rex hatchlings to escape from the nest quickly to avoid being eaten by predators.
Food & Hunting: Despite weighing approximately 7 tons, T rex could move very quickly when chasing a prey, running rather like an ostrich on its specially adapted hind limbs. We know from fossil foot prints that T rex, ran with huge strides. It could probably run 35 miles per hour, fast enough to catch most dinosaurs. In killing its prey, it's likely that T rex would have seized it in its jaws, perhaps lashing at it with its huge claws. Then it would hav held the animal down with is hind feet and ripped it into pieces with its sharp teeth. Most Species of dinosaur would have fallen prey to the T rex, even those heavily armored or protected by horns like the Triceratops,. Still, many of the larger dinosaurs would have been far to big for one T rex to eat, so the remains would have been scavenged by any other flesh eating dinosaur.
Characteristics: All knowledge of dinosaurs comes from fossil evidence: fossilized bones, foot prints, eggs, and teeth marks on the bones of other dinosaurs. From fossils it is possible to get a fairly accurate picture of the life of Tyrannosaurus rex. Because of its massive size, T rex, was menacing in appearance. It huge hind limbs supported its entire weight. each leg had thick muscles and was at least twice a man's height. Its small front limbs were too short to reach its mouth and so could not have been used in feeding. The main use of these limbs was probably to help huge animal off the ground after sleeping. T rex, most important tools were its teeth, which at 12 inches in length, were designed to rip easily through the tough skin of other dinosaurs.
Key Facts: Sizes, Weight, breeding, lifestyle, related Species
Height: 25 ft.
Length: 50 feet from head to tail
Weight: 7 tons
Skull Size: 4 ft long
Tooth Length: 12 inches
Breeding:
Mating: Not Known
Gestation: Not known, But the eggs of
its closest living relative the crocodile , takes 3 months.
No of young: Possibly 12 or more
Lifestyle:
Diet: All other species of dinosaur
Full Classification:
Class: reptilian
Sub Class: Archosauria
Order: Saurishia
Family: tyrannosauridae
Genus & Species: Tyrannosaurus Rex
Where and When they Lived: In North America and Asia toward the end of the Cretaceous period, which began about 140 million years ago. It died out approximately 70 million years ago.
Other Tyrannosaurids an Enemies: Alberosaurus, Daspletosaurus, and Tarbosaurus. A fully grown Tyrannosaurus rex was undoubtedly a top predator and would have had very few enemies.
Features of theT-Rex & Sizes:
Skeletons: Skeletal size of man and T
rex is shown that the man only comes to what is considered the t rex's
ankle and shin.
The special feature: Of these dinosaurs
was an elongation of the back vertebrae. This created a pronounced ridge
down the center of the back bone. T rex also had a large piece of
flat bone joined to the pelvic girdle to support the bulk of its weight..
Skull: Large and heavy with little
room for brain.
Head: Very heavy, measuring over 3 ft
long.
Teeth: Sharp and serrated like steak knives.
Limbs: Forelimbs very small. Huge hind
limbs to support T rex massive bulk.
Pelvis: constructed with strong bones,
allowing for plenty of muscle. T rex also had stomach ribs for extra support
and to stop its internal organs from being crushed with it lay down.
Feet: The hind feet had 4 digits, each
with an 8 inch long curved claw. Forelimbs had two digits.
Tail: Long to counterbalance the bulk
of the upper body.
Did you know:
Dinosaurs bones were first believed to be the
bones of gigantic men.
Dinosaurs were warm blooded. Present day reptiles,
which they are usually thought to resemble, are cold blooded.
The jaws of the T rex were big enough to swallow
a man whole. It is thought that T rex charged its prey with it mouth open,
killing it with the force of its jaws.
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