Object of the Month: Tyrannosaurus rex 

Tyrannosaurus rex 

Tyrannosaurus rex is a theropod dinosaur that lived throughout western North America during the Cretaceous Period, about 68-65 million years ago. Tyrannosaurus rex was a large carnivore, measuring up to 43ft. in length and 7.5 short tons in weight. Scientists have estimated that this theropod had a lifespan of about 30 years and could reach speeds up to 35mph while running. Tyrannosaurs had large olfactory bulbs relative to their brain size, and scientists have hypothesized that this is evidence of a highly developed sense of smell. 

Interesting Fact: Scientists do not know whether Tyrannosaurus rex was a predator or a scavenger. Recent evidence suggests that T-rex had excellent binocular vision, which is common among modern predators. However, Tyrannosaurs’ arms are short when compared to other known predators, and this suggests that T-rex might have had difficulties holding onto prey.