Changes

==Description==

==Description==

T-rex was a large [[theropod]], with recovered specimens averaging between 36-40 feet in length and standing about 12 feet at the hips <ref>Brochu, C.R. 2003. Osteology of Tyrannosaurus rex: insights from a nearly complete skeleton and high-resolution computed tomographic analysis of the skull. Memoirs of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 7: 1-138.</ref>.  The weight of an adult has been estimated to be between 5-7 tons, roughly comparible to a living African [[elephant]].

T-rex was a large [[theropod]], with recovered specimens averaging between 36-40 feet in length and standing about 12 feet at the hips <ref>Brochu, C.R. 2003. Osteology of Tyrannosaurus rex: insights from a nearly complete skeleton and high-resolution computed tomographic analysis of the skull. Memoirs of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 7: 1-138.</ref>.  The weight of an adult has been estimated to be between 5-7 tons, roughly comparable to a living African [[elephant]].

The skull was massively-built and robust.  The sixty teeth which lined the mouth were up to 7-inches long and banana-shaped, with cutting serations on each edge.  T-rex also had forward-facing eyes, giving it [[Binocular vision|binocular vision]].  The other noticable feature was the small forearms bearing only two clawed fingers, which many scientists have declared useless or vestigal.  But the shoulder blades were relatively-large, indicating the arms were still well-muscled, and it has been postulated that these arms aided T-rex in lifting itself up on its hind feet from a prone position. [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=if-t-rex-fell-how-did-it]

The skull was massively-built and robust.  The sixty teeth which lined the mouth were up to 7-inches long and banana-shaped, with cutting serrations on each edge.  T-rex also had forward-facing eyes, giving it [[Binocular vision|binocular vision]].  The other noticeable feature was the small forearms bearing only two clawed fingers, which many scientists have declared useless or vestigial.  But the shoulder blades were relatively-large, indicating the arms were still well-muscled, and it has been postulated that these arms aided T-rex in lifting itself up on its hind feet from a prone position. [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=if-t-rex-fell-how-did-it]

====Diet====

====Diet====

Some scientists, notably Dr. Jack Horner [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3112527.stm][http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/02/05/MN133208.DTL&type=science] of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, have put forword the hypothesis that T-rex was exclusively a scavenger. They cite as their evidence the relatively-slow estimated speed of the animal - no more than 15 miles per hour - as well as the small forelimbs and the large olfactory casts made inside their skulls, which indicated a powerful sense of smell.  This may be partially true, since most carnivores today will happily scavenge available meat. However, it probably was not an ''exclusive'' scavenger, as most meat-eaters must also hunt in order to survive. T-rex's jaws were also quite adaptive to grabbing live prey. In opposition to the scavenger theory there are several specimens of dinosaur - principly ''Edmontosaurus'' and ''Triceratops'' - in North American museums which show clear bite wounds that have healed over, and T-rex teeth easily fit inside them. [http://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/t-rex-predator-or-scavenger.htm/printable][http://www.unearthingtrex.com/pages/rex_behaviour.html]

Some scientists, notably Dr. Jack Horner [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3112527.stm][http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/02/05/MN133208.DTL&type=science] of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, have put forward the hypothesis that T-rex was exclusively a scavenger. They cite as their evidence the relatively-slow estimated speed of the animal - no more than 15 miles per hour - as well as the small forelimbs and the large olfactory casts made inside their skulls, which indicated a powerful sense of smell.  This may be partially true, since most carnivores today will happily scavenge available meat. However, it probably was not an ''exclusive'' scavenger, as most meat-eaters must also hunt in order to survive. T-rex's jaws were also quite adaptive to grabbing live prey. In opposition to the scavenger theory there are several specimens of dinosaur - principally ''Edmontosaurus'' and ''Triceratops'' - in North American museums which show clear bite wounds that have healed over, and T-rex teeth easily fit inside them. [http://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/t-rex-predator-or-scavenger.htm/printable][http://www.unearthingtrex.com/pages/rex_behaviour.html]

====Bite strength====

====Bite strength====