Lady and gentlemen , we have a newTyrannosaurus rex . This unusually intact titan was pull out of the ancient world of the Hell Creek Formation in North America , a veritable treasure treasure trove of fossils that dates back to the Late Cretaceous – 100.5 to 66 million year ago – the twilight chapter of the age of the non - avian dinosaurs .
The fogy remains admit a nearly entirely utter skull 1.2 meters ( 4 foot ) across , several vertebrae , ribs , pelvic arch , pelvis , and lower jaw bone . Based on these clappers , this carnivorous ( and perhaps cannibalistic ) monster would have been 12.2 meter ( 40 feet ) long and up to 6.1 meters ( 20 human foot ) tall . Its skull alone weighs around 1,135 kilo ( 2,500 pounds ) , about the same as an adult male smuggled rhino .
Judging by its cranium , the squad of paleontologists responsible for for excavating it and enrapture it to Burke Museum at the University of Washington ( UW ) think that it was around 15 age old when it died . MostT. rexlive until 25 to 30 year quondam , so this towering vulture clear met anuntimely closing . Living 66.3 million years ago , it would have been one of the last non - avian dinosaurs in existence before theasteroid - free-base apocalypsearrived 300,000 long time later .
The team take down that this is the 15th fairly completeT. rexskull know to scientific discipline , and another welcome addition to the raise collection ofTyrannosaur dodo . It was found as part of the Hell Creek Project ( HCP ) , a multidisciplinary paleontology initiative project to look at the clip immediately before and after the remainder - Cretaceous mass extinction event that pass over out the dinosaurs – andalmost all mammalian , too .
“ This is really great intelligence . The [ HCP ] is responsible for finding the mostT. rexspecimens in the Earth , with 11 to escort , ” Nathan Myhrvold , Intellectual Ventures CEO , paleontologist , and one of two founding fellow member of the project , said in astatement . “ TheT. rexhas always been my favorite dinosaur and I ’m really pleased that this one is going to make its home at the Burke Museum . ”
The skull took some effort to move out from the geological shaping . Dave DeMar / Burke Museum / University of Washington
Although this particular species is inarguably the most iconic and instantly recognisable dinosaur , fossil of it are really quite rarefied compared tomany other typesof dinosaur . However , it ’s still more commonly witness than some other predators , including the moderately mysteriousAbelisaurus , a South American biped hunter that would have rivaled theT. rexin both size of it , speed , and furiousness .
In any case , each and every fossil find produces at least one new scientific divine revelation about the world ’s most noted dinosaur . Jack Horner , the 2d Colorado - father for HCP and a world - renowned paleontologist who was the original scientific advisor forJurassic Park , noted in the financial statement that this new discovery is “ definitely one of the most significant specimens yet found , ” adding that “ because of its sizing , it is certain to yield important information about the growth and possible feeding habits of these glorious animals . ”
This particularT. rexwould have co - live with another terrific piranha – theDakotaraptor . Just lately , this newly come across case of featheredagile assassinwas also found in the Hell Creek Formation , and would have pounced on its quarry at unbelievable speeds with its 19 centimeter - long ( 7.5 - inch ) pop hook . At 5 metre ( 16.4 substructure ) in duration , it would n’t have been a match for any adultT. rexpatrolling the arena , but it could have competed for prey with any juveniles .
As fearsome as these dinosaur were , they did suffer from one particular problem that prepare them a trivial less scary . Their immense superlative , combined with theirsilly , minuscule arm , mean that if they ever fell over , they ’d never be able-bodied to view themselves and would likely erupt their own read/write head from the faceplant .
One of its serrated teeth . Tom Wolken / Burke Museum / University of Washington
