“A name like Tyrannosaurus rex is just irresistible to the tongue.” — Robert Bakker

Tyrannosaurus rex stands as one of the most iconic and well-known figures in popular culture, frequently appearing in films, documentaries, and literature. However, our understanding of this fascinating creature is often distorted compared to the reality of the predator that roamed western North America 66 million years ago.

To gain a clearer perspective on the 'tyrant lizard king,' it's essential to move beyond Hollywood's interpretation and focus on scientific evidence. Thankfully, T.rex is one of the most extensively studied dinosaurs, providing a wealth of information.

Our exploration of Tyrannosaurus will be divided into two sections for easier understanding:

1. Part 1 will aim to dispel prevalent misconceptions about T.rex and present a general description of the species.
2. Part 2 will delve into additional aspects of T.rex's paleobiology, evolutionary history, and paleoenvironment.

(Beginning of Part 1)

# Myths & Misconceptions

Hollywood productions, especially the Jurassic Park series, have fostered many misconceptions about T.rex, contributing to a skewed image of the dinosaur.

For instance, Tyrannosaurus was not capable of outrunning a jeep, its vision did not rely on movement, and it likely did not emit the triumphant roars depicted in films. In fact, it probably didn’t roar at all. As much as I appreciate the thrilling representation of T.rex's roar in Jurassic Park, its scientific validity is questionable.

The closest living relatives of Tyrannosaurus, primarily birds (with crocodilians as a distant second), do not roar either. Instead, T.rex may have produced a low, ominous rumble, possibly at such a low frequency that it could be 'felt' rather than heard.

These scientific insights remind us that while Tyrannosaurus may appear monstrous, it was merely another species that evolved to fill a specific environmental niche, rather than being a mindless killing machine as often portrayed.

To uncover more scientific inaccuracies from the blockbuster, read the article below:

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# Size

Tyrannosaurus is often considered the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever. One of the most complete specimens, named Sue, is housed at the Field Museum of Natural History, measuring 12.3–12.8 meters (40–42 ft) in length and estimated to weigh between 8.4 and 14 metric tons (9.3 to 15.4 short tons).

While Tyrannosaurus was indeed massive, it shared its size with a few other theropods. For example, the semi-aquatic Spinosaurus aegypticus is believed to be longer but lighter, with an estimated length exceeding 14 meters (49 ft) and a weight of approximately 4 metric tons (4.4 short tons).

Additionally, a subfamily of large carcharodontosaurids that thrived in the Southern Hemisphere between 118 and 93 million years ago also rivaled T.rex in size. These included species such as Carcharodontosaurus from Africa and Giganotosaurus, Mapusaurus, and Tyrannotitan from South America.

To learn more about these enormous allosauroids, check the article below:

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# Lethal Bite

One of the most notable characteristics of T.rex is its formidable jaws, equipped with thick, blunt teeth reminiscent of bananas. The largest tooth discovered measures approximately 30.5 centimeters (12 in) long, including its root, making it the largest tooth found among carnivorous dinosaurs.

Estimates indicate that Tyrannosaurus had the strongest bite force of any terrestrial animal, using its teeth to crush bones and penetrate thick armor. Its bite force has been calculated to range between 35,000-57,000 newtons, which is ten times more powerful than that of a modern alligator!

# Tiny Arms

In contrast to its fearsome jaws, T.rex's forelimbs were relatively underwhelming. Measuring just 1 meter (3.3 ft), they were small compared to the dinosaur's overall size. However, they were quite strong, with the estimated biceps muscle of Tyrannosaurus being 3.5 times stronger than that of a human.

The robust structure of the arm bones, combined with the muscle strength and limited mobility, has led some scientists to propose that these limbs could have been used to restrain struggling prey. This theory, however, is not universally accepted, and the exact function of T.rex's forelimbs remains largely a mystery.

Interestingly, tyrannosaurs did not have the smallest forelimbs among theropods. For instance, Abelisaurids, a group characterized by their highly ornate skulls, possessed nearly vestigial arms without wrist bones. To learn more about these fascinating predators, check the article below:

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# Powerful Legs

Contrary to common belief, modern humans could outrun a fully-grown T.rex. Estimates suggest Tyrannosaurus weighed between 5 and 9 tons, marking it as a hefty creature. Despite its size, its legs were not designed for high-speed chases; instead, they were adapted for efficient, low-energy walking.

Tyrannosaurus could cover some distance at speeds of about 12 mph/20 kph—not extremely fast, but likely sufficient for hunting large ceratopsians and hadrosaurs in its environment. Younger T.rex individuals were likely built lighter, making them faster.

This predator relied on its immense strength, heightened senses, and intelligence rather than speed for its hunting success.

# Senses & Intelligence

In the Jurassic Park movies, characters remain still to avoid detection by T.rex. However, in reality, this dinosaur had exceptional binocular vision that allowed it to perceive depth, with eyesight capabilities thirteen times more acute than that of humans.

T.rex also had large olfactory bulbs and nerves, granting it an impressive sense of smell, comparable to that of modern vultures, which can track scents over long distances.

Additionally, T.rex featured an elongated cochlea, enabling it to hear a range of low-frequency sounds.

Moreover, T.rex possessed one of the largest brains among non-avian dinosaurs, surpassed only by certain small maniraptoriforms.

# Epilogue

Tyrannosaurus rex was an extraordinary creature, equipped with lethal jaws, sharp senses, and a relatively large brain. The skeletal remains of this fearsome animal continue to captivate museum-goers worldwide, yet these bones alone cannot fully convey the true essence of this magnificent predator when it was alive—a reality that starkly contrasts with its portrayal in popular media…

(End of Part 1)

To continue, check out Part 2 below:

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# Notes

[1] Maniraptoriformes refers to a group of dinosaurs characterized by feathers and wings, including ornithomimosaurs and maniraptors.

# References

Parrish J.M., Molnar R.E., Currie P.J., Koppelhus E.B., (2013), Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology, Indiana University Press

Hone D., (2016) The Tyrannosaur Chronicles, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Paul G.S., (2010), Dinosaurs A Field Guide, A&C Black Publishers Ltd

Hone D., (2011), Teeth like steak knives or bananas or well, tyrannosaur teeth, [Link:](https://archosaurmusings.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/teeth-like-steak-knives-or-bananas-or-well-tyrannosaur-teeth/)

Witton M., (2017), Revenge of the scaly Tyrannosaurus, [Link:](http://markwitton-com.blogspot.gr/2017/06/revenge-of-scaly-tyrannosaurus.html)

Montanari S., (2017), Actually, You Could Have Outrun a T. rex, [Link:](https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/tyrannosaur-trex-running-speed)

Brusatte S., (2017), New research proves the T rex in “Jurassic Park” would never have caught Jeff Goldblum, [Link:](https://qz.com/1042454/how-fast-could-tyrannosaurus-rex-run-not-very/)

Charles Q. Choi, (2012), T. Rex Bite Strongest Ever on Land — Ten Times Greater Than Gator’s, National Geographic, [Link:](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/2/120228-t-rex-bite-bates-science-biology-letters-dinosaurs/)