Difference between revisions of "Tyrannosaurus"

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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>  
 
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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T-rex lived at the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period, approximately 70 to 65 million years ago, and that modern birds and dinosaurs such as T-rex share common ancestry. <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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[[Theory of evolution|Evolutionary]] scientists believe that the T-rex lived at the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period, 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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[[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] believe that they became extinct sometime since the [[Great Flood]], which was approximately 4,500 years ago.
  
 
== Fossils ==
 
== Fossils ==
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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>
 
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>
  
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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. Scientists saw this as evidence that tissue can last that long.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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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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==Diet==
 
==Diet==
  
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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>,  
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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]].
  
 
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>
 
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>

Revision as of 21:44, May 28, 2007

File:Tyrannosaurus rex.jpg
Joe Tucciarone's illustration of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
(Rights reserved, reproduced here with consent.)

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.[1]

Evolutionary scientists believe that the T-rex lived at the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 65 million years ago, and that modern birds are the descendants of dinosaurs such as T-rex. [2][3]

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

Fossils

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.

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.[4]

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.[5][6]

Diet

T-rex had forward-facing eyes, which gave it binocular vision. Binocular vision is usually present in carnivores, as it gives them better depth perception and helps them catch their prey[7], 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 carnivorous.

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.[8]

Characteristics

Evolutionists speculate that tyrannosaurs may have had feather precursors.[9] However, fossils do not show feathers but merely pebbly skin impressions, which are typical of other dinosaurs. Feathers would certainly not have benefited the huge tyrannosaurus, any more than it would an elephant or a hippopotamus.[10]. However the young may have had a downy coat, like some modern birds.[Citation Needed]

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. ↑ Bird Family Ties
  3. ↑ T Rex Tissue
  4. ↑ Guinness World Records Ltd. (2003). 2003 Guinness World Records. pg 90.
  5. ↑ Still soft and stretchy, by Carl Wieland.
  6. ↑ National Geographic - T. Rex Soft Tissue Found Preserved
  7. ↑ Natural History Museum - Mammals - Eat or be Eaten
  8. ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3790/is_200103/ai_n8932547%7C
  9. ↑ Tyrannosaurus (Wikipedia).
  10. ↑ [1] (Answers in Genesis)
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