Difference between revisions of "Tyrannosaurus"

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[[Image:Tyrannosaurus rex.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Joe Tucciarone's illustration of a Tyrannosaurus rex.<br /><small>(Rights reserved, reproduced here with consent.)</small>]]
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{{Taxonomy
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The '''Tyrannosaurus rex''', or T-rex, was a large carnivorous [[dinosaur]] with very small forelimbs, large hind legs and a long tail. It is one of the largest land carnivores to have ever walked the earth, measuring about 13 meters long and 5 meters high.<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>
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|name=Tyrannosaurus
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|image=Sue at Field Museum.jpg
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|caption=''Tyrannosaurus rex''<br/>"Sue" specimen, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
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|domain=Eukaryota
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|kingdom= Animalia
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|subkingdom=Bilateria
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|branch=Deuterostomia
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|superphylum=
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|phylum=Chordata
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|subphylum=Vertebrata
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|infraphylum=Gnathostomata
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|microphylum=
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|superdivision=
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|division=
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|subdivision=
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|superclass=Tetrapoda
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|class=Reptilia
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|subclass=Diapsida
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|infraclass=Archosauromorpha
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|superorder=Dinosauria
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|order=Saurischia
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|suborder=Theropoda
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|infraorder=Tetanurae
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|superfamily=Tyrannosauroidea
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|family=Tyrannosauridae
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|subfamily=Tyrannosaurinae
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|supertribe=
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|tribe=
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|subtribe=
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|genera=
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|genus=Tyrannosaurus
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|subgenus=
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|species=T. lanpingensis<br/>T. rex<br/>T. torosus
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|binomialname=
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|sub=
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|alt=
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}}
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'''''Tyrannosaurus''''' (Greek: ''τυραννος σαυρος'', "tyrant lizard") was a species of [[dinosaur]] known from several specimens found in North America and Asia. One of the largest carnivorous animals to have walked the earth, ''Tyrannosaurus'' has, since its late-19th century discovery, become the most famous as well, the subject of serious science as well as a perennial character in books, film, and television.
  
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[[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] believe that they became extinct sometime since the [[Great Flood]], dated to approximately 4,500 years ago.  
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==Description==
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''Tyrannosaurus'' 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]].
  
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[[Theory of evolution|Evolutionary]] scientists believe that the T-rex lived at the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period, dated to approximately 65 million years ago, and that modern birds are the descendants of dinosaurs such as T-rex. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/04/12/dinosaur.reut/index.html Bird Family Ties]</ref><ref>[http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/ap_trex_tissues.html T Rex Tissue]</ref>
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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.  ''Tyrannosaurus'' also had forward-facing eyes, giving it [[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 ''Tyrannosaurus'' in lifting itself up on its hind feet from a prone position.<ref>http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=if-t-rex-fell-how-did-it</ref>
  
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== Fossils ==
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==Species==
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The earliest find of a Tyrannosaurus rex occurred in 1892. In 1905, after additional discoveries of fossils, the president of the American Museum for Natural History named the dinosaur. Since then, more than 30 specimens have been found.
+
Three species have been identified as belonging in the genus ''Tyrannosaurus'':
 +
*''Tyrannosaurus lanpingensis''
 +
:First identified in 1975, from Jingxing Formation of Yunnan, China.
 +
*''Tyrannosaurus rex''
 +
:Type species; originally found (as fragments) in 1874 near Golden, Colorado, with more complete finds beginning in 1892.
 +
*''Tyrannosaurus torosus''
 +
:Discovered in 1921 in Alberta, Canada by Charles Sternberg, it was originally named ''Daspletosaurus''.<ref>http://dinosaur-world.com/tyrannosaurs/daspletosaurus_torosusi-include.htm</ref>  G. S. Paul in 1988 added this animal to the ''Tyrannosaurus'' genus.<ref>http://tolweb.org/Tyrannosauridae/15896</ref>
  
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In 1990, amateur paleontologist Susan Hendrickson discovered the most complete Tyrannosaurus fossil yet. The fossil, named Sue, is also one of the largest Tyrannosaurus specimen discovered.<ref>Guinness World Records Ltd. (2003). 2003 Guinness World Records. pg 90.</ref>
+
==Diet==
 +
Some scientists, notably Dr. Jack Horner<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3112527.stm</ref><ref>https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/02/05/MN133208.DTL&type=science</ref> of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, have put forward the hypothesis that ''Tyrannosaurus'' 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. ''Tyrannosaurus''' 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 tyrannosaur teeth easily fit inside them.<ref>http://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/t-rex-predator-or-scavenger.htm/printable</ref><ref>http://www.unearthingtrex.com/pages/rex_behaviour.html</ref>
  
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Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer has discovered unfossilised soft tissue in T-rex skeletons.  This was unexpected as tissue was not expected to last anything like 65 million years. Evolutionists saw this as evidence that tissue can last that long, whilst creationists saw it as evidence that the fossils were not that old.<ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3042 Still soft and stretchy], by Carl Wieland.</ref><ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0324_050324_trexsofttissue.html National Geographic - T. Rex Soft Tissue Found Preserved]</ref>
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====Bite strength====
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Recent estimates based on computer models, scale models of skulls, and comparisons with living animals suggest ''Tyrannosaurus'' had one of the most powerful bites of any animal.  Experiments conducted by Dr. Gregory Erickson when he was a graduate student at the University of California (Berkeley) determined that a minimum of 1,440 pounds of pressure from its front teeth alone could put a 11.5 mm-deep hole in bone, while 3,011 pounds of pressure came from its back teeth.<ref>http://news-service.stanford.edu/pr/96/960827tyrexbite.html</ref><ref>http://science.discovery.com/videos/mammals-vs-dinos-t-rex-bite-force.html</ref><ref>http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0405_060405_trex_video.html</ref><ref>http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28239-assignment-discovery-tyrannosaurus-rexs-bite-force-video.htm</ref>  The strength of the bite may have been as much as four tons or more, according to Dr. Eric Snively of the University of Alberta, who discovered the significance of fused nasal bones unique to ''Tyrannosaurus''.  "Fused, arch-like nasal bones are a unique feature of tyrannosaurids," he said. "This adaptation, for instance, was keeping the T. rexes from breaking their own skull while breaking the bones of their prey."  A fused nasal bone channels the force of the bite from the skull to the prey item; this, with the combination of extremely-powerful neck muscles, convinced Dr. Snively and his colleagues that an adult ''Tyrannosaurus'' could potentially use 200,000 newtons of force when pulling meat off a carcass.<ref>http://www.livescience.com/animals/070518_dino_nose.html</ref>
  
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==Diet==
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In 1995 a coprolite (fossilized dung) was discovered near Eastend, Saskatchewan, and determined to have been from a tyrannosaur based on the size as well as the bone fragments within from a ''Triceatops'', leading scientists to speculate that the power of a T-rex bite could shatter bone.<ref>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061898/LA0709.001.shtml</ref>
  
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T-rex had forward-facing eyes, which gave it binocular vision. [[Vision|Binocular vision]] is usually present in carnivores, as it gives them better depth perception and helps them catch their prey<ref>[http://www.nhm.org/mammals/page010.html Natural History Museum - Mammals - Eat or be Eaten]</ref>, therefore it is very likely that Tyrannosaurus was a carnivore. Young earth creationists believe that the Tyrannosaurus, along with all other carnivores, was herbivorous in the [[Garden of Eden]] before the Fall, but afterwards it adapted to be [[carnivore|carnivorous]].
+
== Fossils ==
 +
The earliest find of a ''Tyrannosaurus'' fossil occurred in 1892. In 1905, after additional discoveries of fossils, the president of the American Museum for Natural History named the dinosaur. Since then, more than 30 specimens have been found.
  
−
Some have suggested that T-rex was exclusively a scavenger. 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, and probably used them in the same way most carnivores do: bit the throat to either crush the larynx and thus kill by suffocation or through blood loss. Also, the T-rex's large body probably required a great amount of food and therefore scavenging probably wouldn't be sufficient to support its high metabolism.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3790/is_200103/ai_n8932547|</ref>
+
In 1990, amateur paleontologist Susan Hendrickson discovered the most complete ''Tyrannosaurus'' fossil yet. The fossil, named "Sue", is also one of the largest tyrannosaur specimens discovered.<ref>Guinness World Records Ltd. (2003). 2003 Guinness World Records. pg 90.</ref>
  
 +
Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer has discovered unfossilized soft tissue in a tyrannosaur skeleton. This was unexpected as tissue was not known to stay unfossilized for 65 million years. Evolutionists saw this as evidence that tissue can last that long, while creationists saw it as evidence that the fossils were not that old.<ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3042 Still soft and stretchy], by Carl Wieland.</ref><ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0324_050324_trexsofttissue.html National Geographic - T. Rex Soft Tissue Found Preserved]</ref>
  
 +
[[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] believe that they became extinct sometime since the [[Great Flood]], dated to approximately 4,500 years ago.
  
−
==References==
+
[[Theory of evolution|Evolutionary]] scientists believe that ''Tyrannosaurus'' lived at the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period, dated to approximately 65 million years ago, and that modern birds are the descendants of dinosaurs such as T. rex.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/04/12/dinosaur.reut/index.html Bird Family Ties]</ref><ref>http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/ap_trex_tissues.html T Rex Tissue</ref>
  
−
<references/>
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==References==
 +
{{reflist|2}}
  
 
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
 
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]

Latest revision as of 21:50, April 3, 2019

Tyrannosaurus
Sue at Field Museum.jpg
Tyrannosaurus rex
"Sue" specimen, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Branch Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Reptilia
Sub-class Diapsida
Infra-class Archosauromorpha
Order Information
Superorder Dinosauria
Order Saurischia
Sub-order Theropoda
Infraorder Tetanurae
Family Information
Superfamily Tyrannosauroidea
Family Tyrannosauridae
Sub-family Tyrannosaurinae
Genus Information
Genus Tyrannosaurus
Species Information
Species T. lanpingensis
T. rex
T. torosus
Population statistics

Tyrannosaurus (Greek: τυραννος σαυρος, "tyrant lizard") was a species of dinosaur known from several specimens found in North America and Asia. One of the largest carnivorous animals to have walked the earth, Tyrannosaurus has, since its late-19th century discovery, become the most famous as well, the subject of serious science as well as a perennial character in books, film, and television.

Description

Tyrannosaurus was a large theropod, with recovered specimens averaging between 36–40 feet in length and standing about 12 feet at the hips.[1] 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 serrations on each edge. Tyrannosaurus also had forward-facing eyes, giving it 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 Tyrannosaurus in lifting itself up on its hind feet from a prone position.[2]

Species

Three species have been identified as belonging in the genus Tyrannosaurus:

  • Tyrannosaurus lanpingensis
First identified in 1975, from Jingxing Formation of Yunnan, China.
  • Tyrannosaurus rex
Type species; originally found (as fragments) in 1874 near Golden, Colorado, with more complete finds beginning in 1892.
  • Tyrannosaurus torosus
Discovered in 1921 in Alberta, Canada by Charles Sternberg, it was originally named Daspletosaurus.[3] G. S. Paul in 1988 added this animal to the Tyrannosaurus genus.[4]

Diet

Some scientists, notably Dr. Jack Horner[5][6] of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, have put forward the hypothesis that Tyrannosaurus 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. Tyrannosaurus' 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 tyrannosaur teeth easily fit inside them.[7][8]

Bite strength

Recent estimates based on computer models, scale models of skulls, and comparisons with living animals suggest Tyrannosaurus had one of the most powerful bites of any animal. Experiments conducted by Dr. Gregory Erickson when he was a graduate student at the University of California (Berkeley) determined that a minimum of 1,440 pounds of pressure from its front teeth alone could put a 11.5 mm-deep hole in bone, while 3,011 pounds of pressure came from its back teeth.[9][10][11][12] The strength of the bite may have been as much as four tons or more, according to Dr. Eric Snively of the University of Alberta, who discovered the significance of fused nasal bones unique to Tyrannosaurus. "Fused, arch-like nasal bones are a unique feature of tyrannosaurids," he said. "This adaptation, for instance, was keeping the T. rexes from breaking their own skull while breaking the bones of their prey." A fused nasal bone channels the force of the bite from the skull to the prey item; this, with the combination of extremely-powerful neck muscles, convinced Dr. Snively and his colleagues that an adult Tyrannosaurus could potentially use 200,000 newtons of force when pulling meat off a carcass.[13]

In 1995 a coprolite (fossilized dung) was discovered near Eastend, Saskatchewan, and determined to have been from a tyrannosaur based on the size as well as the bone fragments within from a Triceatops, leading scientists to speculate that the power of a T-rex bite could shatter bone.[14]

Fossils

The earliest find of a Tyrannosaurus fossil occurred in 1892. In 1905, after additional discoveries of fossils, the president of the American Museum for Natural History named the dinosaur. Since then, more than 30 specimens have been found.

In 1990, amateur paleontologist Susan Hendrickson discovered the most complete Tyrannosaurus fossil yet. The fossil, named "Sue", is also one of the largest tyrannosaur specimens discovered.[15]

Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer has discovered unfossilized soft tissue in a tyrannosaur skeleton. This was unexpected as tissue was not known to stay unfossilized for 65 million years. Evolutionists saw this as evidence that tissue can last that long, while creationists saw it as evidence that the fossils were not that old.[16][17]

Young Earth Creationists believe that they became extinct sometime since the Great Flood, dated to approximately 4,500 years ago.

Evolutionary scientists believe that Tyrannosaurus lived at the end of the Cretaceous period, dated to approximately 65 million years ago, and that modern birds are the descendants of dinosaurs such as T. rex.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=if-t-rex-fell-how-did-it
  3. ↑ http://dinosaur-world.com/tyrannosaurs/daspletosaurus_torosusi-include.htm
  4. ↑ http://tolweb.org/Tyrannosauridae/15896
  5. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3112527.stm
  6. ↑ https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/02/05/MN133208.DTL&type=science
  7. ↑ http://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/t-rex-predator-or-scavenger.htm/printable
  8. ↑ http://www.unearthingtrex.com/pages/rex_behaviour.html
  9. ↑ http://news-service.stanford.edu/pr/96/960827tyrexbite.html
  10. ↑ http://science.discovery.com/videos/mammals-vs-dinos-t-rex-bite-force.html
  11. ↑ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0405_060405_trex_video.html
  12. ↑ http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28239-assignment-discovery-tyrannosaurus-rexs-bite-force-video.htm
  13. ↑ http://www.livescience.com/animals/070518_dino_nose.html
  14. ↑ http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061898/LA0709.001.shtml
  15. ↑ Guinness World Records Ltd. (2003). 2003 Guinness World Records. pg 90.
  16. ↑ Still soft and stretchy, by Carl Wieland.
  17. ↑ National Geographic - T. Rex Soft Tissue Found Preserved
  18. ↑ Bird Family Ties
  19. ↑ http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/ap_trex_tissues.html T Rex Tissue
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