Tyrannosaurus rex—the true king of dinosaurs. T. rex has rightfully become an icon of paleontology. This enormous seven-ton predator embodied many advanced traits. Let’s take a closer look at them.

The size of Tyrannosaurus rex is truly impressive. It measured 12 meters in length, stood 4 meters tall at the hips, and weighed around 7 tons. Its massive skull, lined with dozens of long teeth, could measure 1.5 to 2 meters in length—large enough to fit an entire human inside. Tyrannosaurus teeth hold the record among all terrestrial predators. Including the root, they could reach up to 30 cm in length. Even the hypertrophied upper canines of saber-toothed Smilodons were slightly shorter.

The bite force of Tyrannosaurus rex is several times greater than that of any modern predator. Although its reconstruction is not perfect and future recalculations are expected, the current figures are impressive: 250-300 kN. This makes the jaws of Tyrannosaurus among the most powerful in the history of terrestrial animals.

The question of whether T. rex was a hunter or a scavenger remains unresolved. However, the set of advanced features in Tyrannosaurus increasingly inclines paleontologists to believe it led a predatory lifestyle. T. rex possessed well-developed binocular vision—the ability to focus on an object with both eyes, providing a more accurate assessment of distance. Such vision is more characteristic of active hunters rather than scavengers. The part of Tyrannosaurus’s brain responsible for the sense of smell was also well-developed. While this could be attributed to scavengers, a keen sense of smell is common among all carnivores, both scavengers and apex hunters. Additionally, Tyrannosaurus had a reinforced jaw and deeply set teeth. Notably, its jaw had additional mobility compared to other tyrannosaurids, providing increased stability during lateral stresses. This adaptation is more suited to a hunter of large animals rather than a scavenger whose food doesn’t resist and cannot damage the jaw. The jaws and teeth of Tyrannosaurus seemed almost purpose-built for holding down a struggling multi-ton victim. Tyrannosaurus, with its massive weight, certainly couldn’t run after its prey, as recent studies confirm, but it was more than capable of stalking it. However, T. rex had little need to run—its primary prey consisted of slow-moving Triceratops and hadrosaurs, whose turning radius was like that of a train. This is evidenced by bite marks from the giant jaws found on the frills and tails of these victims.

Tyrannosaurs were extremely aggressive dinosaurs. This aggression was also directed within the species, raising questions about their social behavior. We can observe the struggles of these giant theropods, which lived 66 million years ago, through nearly complete skeletons (60-70% of the bones relative to a full skeleton). Adult Tyrannosaurs like Stan and Sue bore numerous life-long injuries resembling bite marks. Such bites may have been the result of fights during mating rituals. Female Tyrannosaurs reached sexual maturity at 14-16 years old, and the average lifespan of a T. rex was around 30 years.

Few who study dinosaurs can resist discussing the purpose of Tyrannosaurus’s tiny arms. In fact, many theropods had rudimentary forelimbs. This is characteristic of almost all tyrannosaurids, as well as Giganotosaurus and Carnotaurus. T. rex’s short arms might have been useful only during its early years. When you have some of the most powerful jaws in Earth’s history, the need for claws and strong arms becomes almost redundant. Over millennia, the forelimbs of Tyrannosaurus shrank until they reached the tiny size we see today. Had the king lived a bit longer, he might have lost them altogether.

It’s no secret that the first animal that comes to mind when mentioning paleontology, and dinosaurs in particular, is Tyrannosaurus. Books and movies have been dedicated to it. Professionals are drawn to its unique adaptations, which are absent in its relatives, while enthusiasts are captivated by its terrifying size. It might seem that in the 21st century, with dozens of well-preserved Tyrannosaurus fossils discovered, all the burning questions would be resolved. But that’s only a superficial view of the animal. Questions about its hunting habits, behavior, and skin coverings remain relevant. Tyrannosaurus became the main antagonist in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, and later in the films. T. rex impressed viewers so much that today, there are countless dinosaur specialists in the West. This enormous twelve-meter predator is truly the icon of paleontology.

Just as lions and other members of the genus Panthera are considered kings of predators today due to their size and advanced traits, Tyrannosaurus was the king of the Late Cretaceous. The Mesozoic era knew many giant predators: Spinosaurus, Giganotosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus. But Tyrannosaurus, besides its size, could boast a massive build, reinforced jaws and teeth, well-developed sensory organs, and many other features that make it the most recognizable figure in paleontology.