Tyrannosaurus Rex

Species: Tyrannosaurus Rex
Habitat: North American Forests
Status: Extinct
DAK Locale: Dinoland USA

The T-Rex was a large predatory dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period. In fact, it had a strong population throughout the North American continent as late as 65 million years ago. It was common at the time of the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction.

It was one of the largest meat eaters that ever lived. Its thick four foot long jaw was perfect for tearing into the large herbivore dinosaurs that roamed the forests at that time. It was also prefect for crushing bone. In fact, bones have been found in its fossilized feces. It also had serrated teeth that likely allowed it to grip and tear off flesh in large chunks.

At its maximum, it was about forty feet long and perhaps as tall as 20 feet. It was likely quite fast thanks to its powerful thighs. The short arms probably allowed to hold prey but did not allow it to reach its mouth. Its huge head required a large heavy tail to keep its balance.

Scientists continue to debate the role the animal played in the ecosystem. Some believe the T Rex was a powerful predator. Others believe it was likely a scavenger as its teeth allowed it to break and chew bones. Plus, it seems to have had a strong sense of smell, a common feature in carrion feeders. But that is not the only debate amongst scientists. Some believe that infants may have been covered in feathers like some other closely related dinosaurs at the time. Others also believe that it may have even had a warm blooded metabolism.

In 1990, a paleontologist found a nearly complete (85%) fossil of the dinosaur. That fossil now appears at the Field Museum in Chicago. However, parts of it were worked on and restored at Disney's Animal Kingdom. A replica of the complete fossil is on display near the entrance to the Dinosaur attraction.