Tyrannosaurus Rex T. Rex
by Kristin Elmquist
Title
Tyrannosaurus Rex T. Rex
Artist
Kristin Elmquist
Medium
Photograph
Description
Tyrannosaurus; meaning "tyrant lizard", from Greek tyrannos meaning "tyrant," and sauros meaning "lizard") is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex (rex meaning "king" in Latin), commonly abbreviated to T. rex, is a fixture in popular culture. It lived throughout what is now western North America, at the time an island continent termed Laramidia, with 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, 67 to 65.5 million years ago. It was 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 the large and powerful hindlimbs, Tyrannosaurus forelimbs were small, though unusually powerful for their size, and bore two clawed digits. Although other theropods rivaled or exceeded Tyrannosaurus rex in size, it was the largest known tyrannosaurid and one of the largest known land predators, measuring up to 12.3 m (40 ft) in length, up to 4 metres (13 ft) tall at the hips, and up to 6.8 metric tons (7.5 short tons) in weight. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, Tyrannosaurus rex may have been an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs and ceratopsians, although some experts have suggested it was primarily a scavenger. The debate over Tyrannosaurus as apex predator or scavenger is among the longest running in paleontology.
More than 30 specimens of Tyrannosaurus rex have been identified, some of which are nearly complete skeletons. Soft tissue and proteins have been reported in at least one of these specimens. The abundance of fossil material has allowed significant research into many aspects of its biology, including life history and biomechanics. The feeding habits, physiology and potential speed of Tyrannosaurus rex are a few subjects of debate. Its taxonomy is also controversial, with some scientists considering Tarbosaurus bataar from Asia to represent a second species of Tyrannosaurus and others maintaining Tarbosaurus as a separate genus. Several other genera of North American tyrannosaurids have also been synonymized with Tyrannosaurus.
Uploaded
July 22nd, 2012
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Viewed 3,330 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/23/2024 at 2:05 PM
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Comments (14)
Kristin Elmquist
Thanks, Mark, for featuring this image in the Wild and Crazy Animals Group. I appreciate it. :)
First Star Art
CONGRATULATIONS!! This wonderful artwork is awarded HONORABLE MENTION for the Contest DINOSAURS and FOSSILS July 2012!! :^D jrr (contest admin)
Kristin Elmquist
Thanks so much, Nicole. :) I'll be meandering through your portfolio some time tomorrow afternoon.
Kristin Elmquist
Thanks, First Star Art, for featuring this image in the For Children Group. I appreciate it. :)
Xueling Zou
This capture is so cool! I love the texture and colors! Well done, Kristin! Thank you:)!
Lianne Schneider
I'm guessing this is a park or museum but regardless of how you did it, you've created something so unique and exciting here. Fabulous piece. F/V
Pete Reynolds
Nice shot of Mr. T Rex Kristin, it's nice to see you have entered it into my fist contest on FAA, all the best with it!
Randy Rosenberger
A very grandiose capture of this beast of extinction, Kristin! Love the surroundings and the details of the T Rex! I also very much enjoyed reading your description of this period of time so long ago. Must have been an awesome experience, visiting here! What a photo op dream! Thanks much for sharing, and you got the big, "Elvis" F/V on this giant masterpiece!