Animals & Nature
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus rex was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived in western North America near the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Tyrannosaurus rex was a large meat-eating dinosaur that lived about 66 to 68 million years ago, near the end of the Cretaceous Period. Its fossils have been found in western North America. It walked on two powerful hind legs and balanced its large head with a long, heavy tail.
T. rex reached roughly 12 meters in length and had around 60 thick, serrated teeth, some measuring as much as 20 centimeters. Fossil evidence and biomechanical studies indicate that its jaws could exert an exceptionally strong bite capable of crushing bone.
Quick facts
- T. rex lived about 66 to 68 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period.
- Its fossils are known from western North America, including the United States and Canada.
- Adults could grow to approximately 12 meters in length.
- Its jaws held about 60 teeth, with some teeth reaching roughly 20 centimeters long.
- Modern reconstructions position its body roughly parallel to the ground rather than upright with its tail dragging.
A surprising fact
The famous Wankel T. rex skeleton was discovered in Montana in 1988 by amateur fossil hunter Kathy Wankel during a family camping trip.