There is great debate over how many genera and species names

are valid in the Tyrannosauria.

Generally recognized species: Junior synonyms of T. rex:

Tyrannosaurus rex Dynamosaurus imperiosus
Albertosaurus sarcophagus Gorgosaurus lancesus
Gorgosaurus libratus Albertosaurus megagracilis
Daspletosaurus torosus Tarbosaurus bataar
Tarbosaurus bataar Aublysodon molnari
Nannotyrannus lancensis
Alectrosaurus olseni
Alioramus remotus
Junior synonyms of Ta. bataar:
Bagaraatan ostromi
Stokesosaurus clevelandi Tarbosaurus efremovi
Eotyrannus lengi Gorgosaurus lancinator
Yutyrannus hauli Albertosaurus periculosus
Guanlong wucaii Shanshanosaurus huoyanshanensis
Raptorex kriegsteini Chingkankousaurus fragilis
Tyrannosaurus luanchanensis
Invalid genera:
Laelaps
Deinodon
NOTE: Not everyone agrees with these choices.
Dryptosaurus
Maleevosaurus
 Some of the generally
recognized species.
 Basal (primitive)
tyrannosaurs.

Advanced tyrannosaurs.

(Birds)

1 = Coelurosauria; 2 =Tyrannosauroidea
 The Smaller Tyrannosaurids

Guanlong
Eotyrannus

Dilong Raptorex
 Guanlong (“crown-dragon”)
An early tyrannosaurid from the Jurassic that
sported a medial crest. Guanlong belonged
to the Proceratosauridae (“first-horned
lizards”), a clade of generally smaller
tyrannosaurids that possessed medial
crests. Unlike advanced tyrannosaurs,
protoceratosaurs possessed long arms with
three fingers.

Skull reconstruction.
 The Early Cretaceous Dilong (“emperor dragon”) is a basal tyrannosauroid. Its
primitive nature has resulted in some researchers classifying it a protoceratosaur
(it does have a very slight expanded nasal bone), but the consensus among
paleontologists is that Dilong is at the base of the lineage that lead to the giant
tyrannosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex.

tyrannosaurs
Protoceratosaurs

Advanced
Dilong
Tyrannosauroidea
 The skull of Raptorex is dwarfed by the
skull Tyrannosaurus.

Raptorex (“robber-king”)
shows the same menacing
features as T. rex but was only
1/90th as massive. It is
considered a “missing link”
between older tyrannosaurs
and T. rex.
Forelimbs of Tyrannosaurus and Raptorex.
Raptorex kriegsteini
 The fossil remains of Raptorex consist of a single juvenile specimen but the exact
location where it was found in unknown (though it probably came from Mongolia or
northeastern China). Because the specimen is a juvenile, and the changes undergone
by tyrannosaurids during growth are not yet well understood, many researchers now
consider it to be a nomen dubium (a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful
application) because it cannot be confidently paired with an adult skeleton. However it
is extremely similar in size juvenile specimens of Tarbosaurus bataar.

Remains of a juvenile Reconstructed skull of

Tarbosaurus bataar. Raptorex kriegsteini.
 Yutyrannus

Formally named and described in April 2012, Yutyrannus hauli from

the Early Cretaceous of China was 30 feet long, about 75% as big as a
T-rex.
 Unusual for any large dinosaur, three nearly complete skeletons were discovered, two of which
died right next to each other (sk = skull, ma = mandible). Below is a close-up of the mandible and
front part of the upper jaw of the left-hand specimen. Yutyrannus shares some features, particularly of
the skull, with later tyrannosauroids like T-rex, but is similar to other primitive tyrannosauroids in
having a three-fingered hand.
 Most significantly, Y. huali bears long filamentous feathers (seen
here as dark streaks along the tail vertebrae; see detail on the next
slide), thus providing direct evidence for the presence of extensively
feathered gigantic dinosaurs and offering new insights into early
feather evolution.
Filamentous feathers
The Larger Tyrannosaurids

Albertosaurs

Tyrannosaurs

Gorgosaurus

Dasplateosaurs Tarbosaurus
 Large Tyrannosaurids
• Generally large, some exceeding 40 feet in length.
• Massive skulls with a thick jaw and large teeth.
• Relatively short S-shaped neck.
• Short (almost vestigial) arms with two fingers (I and II).
• Slender ischium and a large boot on pubis.
• Powerful hind legs.
• Constricted third metatarsal.

massive
skull S-shaped neck

slender ischium
short forearms
with small digits
large boot

Tyrannosaurus rex
 mt III
mt III

IV
II
III

Left feet of Tyrannosaurus. Note the characteristic

proximally pinched third metatarsal (mt III).
 Albertosaurines and Tyrannosaurines
Albertosaurines are large, lightly built tyrannosaurids with shorter, flatter
skulls as compared with tyrannosaurines.

Albertosaurs
Gorgosaurs

Albertosaurine

Tyrannosaurs
Daspletosaurs
Tarbosaurs

Tyrannosaurine
 Tyrannosaurus rex (or T-rex as it is commonly referred to), was the last of the
tyrannosaurs to evolve. It was also the largest of its kind reaching lengths of 40
feet and an estimated weight of 6 to 7.5 tons with the largest individuals reaching
9 tons.

A native of western North America, it lived at the very end of the Cretaceous
Period, appearing only about 2 million years before the great extinction.
 Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the
American Museum of Natural History, named
Tyrannosaurus rex (tyrant-lizard king or King
Tyrant Lizard) in 1905, the name emphasizing
the animal’s size and perceived dominance
over other species of its time.
 CM 9380 is the type specimen used to describe Tyrannosaurus rex. Fragments were first found in
1902 by Barnum Brown, assistant curator of the American Museum of Natural History and were
designated AMNH 973. Brown relayed the information to Osborn, but it would be three years before
they found the rest of it.

When the type was described by Osborn in 1905, knowledge of dinosaur predators at the time
was based on Jurassic carnosaurs, so the short forearms of Tyrannosaurus were treated with
suspicion (it was thought that bones of a smaller theropod had become mixed in with the remains of
the larger fossil). When the United States entered World War II in 1941, the holotype was sold to the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh for protection against possible bombing raids.
The specimen, now labeled CM 9380, is still mounted in Pittsburgh, at first with the tail acting as a
tripod in the old fashioned “kangaroo-posture.” It has since received a modernization of its posture
and can now be found balancing with tail outstretched.
Original mount of Tyrannosaurus rex (AMNH 973) in kangaroo-posture.
Reconstructed mount of CM 9380 (formerly AMNH 973).
 Five of the most complete
T. rex skeletons

BHI 3033 (4,900 kg)

CM 9380 (= AMNH 973) (5,400 kg)

AMNH 5027 (5,800 kg)

MOR 980 (6,000 kg)

FMNH PR2081 (6,400 kg)

 Right side of hip region
of Tyrannosaurus. Note
the enlarged boot at the
distal end of the pubis
and the relatively slender
ischium
The S-shaped neck (with spinous processes).
Serrations for slicing like a steak knife
“Black Beauty” was
found in Alberta,
Canada, in 1980. It now
resides at the Royal
Tyrrell Museum, but
casts of it can be seen
at many exhibitions
around the world like
this one in Sweden.
 FMNH PR2081 (a.k.a. “Sue”) discovered in 1992 by Susan Hendrickson. It was 95%
complete and is displayed at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
Location of the eyes indicates good binocular vision.
Location of the eyes indicates good binocular vision.
 vestigial
digit III

II
I

Left forearm of Tyrannosaurus. II

Note the extremely short radius
(r), ulna (u), and humerus (h), Right hand of Tyrannosaurus.
relative to the phalanges.

The first skeletal remains

of T. rex lacked hands, so they
were reconstructed showing
three fingers like Carnosaurs.
 Tyrannosaurus showing arms and
furcula (wishbone) The furcula
(highlighted in blue), is the small,
broadly U-shaped bone between the
shoulder blades (highlighted in red).
The arms are highlighted in yellow.
Spinosaurus Carcharodontosaurus Giganotosaurus Tyrannosaurus
aegypticus saharicus carolinii rex

Spinosaur Carnosaurs Tyrannosaur

 How to Differentiate Between an Abelisaur,
a Carnosaur and a Tyrannosaur.
Abelisaur:
•Slender lower jaw.
•Skull with extensive pitting
and sculpturing.

Carnosaur: Tyrannosaur:
•Slender lower jaw. •Massive lower jaw.
•Skull with no extensive pitting •Skull with no extensive pitting
and sculpturing. and sculpturing.
 How to Differentiate Between a Carnosaur and a Tyrannosaur
Carnosaur (Allosaurus) Tyrannosaur (Tyannosaurus)
lacrimal “horns”

Carnosaurs have narrower skulls, lacrimal Tyrannosaurs have wider skulls with
“horns”, and relatively slender lower jaws. thicker, more massive lower jaws.
 How to Differentiate Between a Carnosaur and a Tyrannosaur

Carnosaur (Allosaurus) Tyrannosaur (Tyannosaurus)

Arm of Allosaurus: Arm of Tyrannosaurus:

•Long radius and ulna •Short radius and ulna.
r
•Three functional fingers. •Only two fingers.
u

I
II
II III

Foot of Allosaurus:
•Metatarsal (long toe bone) Foot of Tyannosaurus:
of toe III is not compressed •Metatarsal of toe III is
between those of toes II compressed between
and IV. those of toes II and IV.
 How to Differentiate Between a Carnosaur and a Tyrannosaur

Relatively long arms

with three long,
functional, grasping
fingers. Carnosaur (Allosaurus)

Very short arms

with two fingers.

Tyrannosaur (Tyannosaurus)
 Tyrannosaurus rex was such large, powerful and menacing
animal with large serrated teeth it seemed only natural that it
would have been the top predator, capable of taking down all
but the largest sauropod herbivore.

This notion has been challenged, most notably by dinosaur

expert Jack Horner who says that T. rex could not have been an
active predator but was instead a scavenger that used its
fearsome appearance to scare real predators away from a kill.
Some of the reasons why T. rex might have been a scavenger.
Some of the reasons why T. rex might have been a
predator.
 Too fast and
agile for a T. rex.

Due to its physical bulk, an adult T. rex could not have

been a fleet-footed predator that ran down swift prey.

It might have been able to lunge at unsuspecting prey,

but T. rex was probably not a very stealthy animal: on the
plains it could be seen coming and would make a lot of
noise moving through wooded areas.
 Comparisons with living animals Some researchers have proposed a
suggest that about 25 percent of T. rex’s more crouched running posture for T. rex,
body mass was locked up in leg muscle. as well as speeds of up to 45 miles per
This would have capped the dinosaur’s hour. For such a huge dinosaur to run this
top speed at somewhere between 10 and fast, however, its leg muscles would have
25 miles per hour. to take up 85 percent of its body mass, with
little left over for the rest of the body. The
result would be a scary looking, but not
very probable, creature.
T = muscle mass per leg.
 If it was going to run after its meal, the prey would also
have to be large and slow.
 Because of its small arms, if T. rex fell
while chasing prey, it would take a long
time to get itself back up (perhaps
enough time for the prey to escape).
 A large prey can turn on a large predator, and
predators cannot afford to be injured.
 This image shows the
traditional view with the
nostril located more to the
rear of the head.

This image is a new

restoration based on a
more recent study
reflecting the forward
position of the nostril.

Changing the nostril position in Tyrannosaurus rex.

 Olfactory bulbs

Ant. Post.

While T. rex had This is a brain endocast of a Tyrannosaurus

binocular vision, its eyes brain. The olfactory bulbs process the sense
were relatively small of smell.
implying it did not rely on
them for locating food. The large olfactory bulbs indicates a
heightened sense of smell. Vultures and other
scavengers use an enhanced sense of smell to
locate carcasses. The idea is that T. rex used
its nose rather than its eyes for finding food.
Tooth marks are somewhat ambiguous.
•Biting into live prey would cause puncture marks in bone.
•Stripping meat off a carcass would cause scrape marks on the bone.
Both patterns have been observed on prey skeletons.

A predator that has taken down its prey would eat the choicest and easiest parts
of the prey first such as the thigh. T. rex tooth marks are commonly found on the
inner pelvis of a prey animal, a difficult area to access which is mostly gristle.
These marks would suggest that T. rex arrived after the best bits were already
eaten by something else and had to settle for what was left (below).

T. rex bite marks

T. rex bite marks

T. rex bite mark

Perhaps it was opportunistic: scavenging when possible (a safer method) and
attacking when necessary.
 Tyrannosaurus could use its physical bulk to
scare off a small predator that brought down a prey
animal and then scavenge the carcass.
 Scenario A
1. As seen from above, small 2. The Tyrannosaur follows the
predator has brought down a smell until it makes eye
prey animal. A passing contact with its goal.
Tyrannosaur smells the kill
even through a screen of
trees.

3. The Tyrannosaur 4. The Tyrannosaur now

charges the small scavenges the
predator causing it to carcass.
flee.
 Scenario B 2. Juvenile T. rex’s start
1. Juvenile T. rex’s were chasing a Triceratops.
lighter and more agile than
adults and may have helped
in bringing down large prey.

3. The juvenile T. rex’s chase 4. The adult T. rex attacks and

the Triceratops towards kills the Triceratops.
where an adult is waiting.
 A 2013 study reported a T. rex tooth crown embedded in a hadrosaurid tail vertebra surrounded
by healed bone growth. This indicates that the prey escaped and lived for some time after the injury,
providing direct evidence of predatory behavior by T. rex. The position of the injury on the tail
suggests that the T. rex possibly had engaged in pursuit predation.

CT scans of the fused hadrosaur vertebrae, showing

embedded T. rex tooth and reactive bone (A–C).

Depiction of a hadrosaur skeleton

showing the position in the tail of the
fused vertebrae (A) and a lateral view
of the affected vertebrae with the the
pencil indicating the location of the
T. rex tooth (B).
 Evidence of predation by juvenile a T. rex* seems to have been confirmed by it
being found next to a Triceratops. The remains were first discovered in 2006 in
Montana, but took over 10 years to prepare at a museum. It is thought to have been
in a fight with the Triceratops at the time of its death as both sets of remains bear
“battle scars” indicating the conflict:

•Teeth from the tyrannosaur are embedded in the Triceratops’s spine.

•The tyrannosaur had most of its teeth broken, bears a broken finger, and its
skull is cracked

The most complete T. Rex skeleton found | Dueling Dinosaurs - YouTube

*Some researchers believe the predator was a specimen of Nanotyrannus rather than a
juvenile Tyrannosaurus.
 This is not to say that Tyrannosaurus never scavenged. Many modern predators like
lions will eat a dead animal if they happen to find one, but the evidence clearly shows
that Tyrannosaurus also took down live prey.

Tyrannosaurus as scavenger. Tyrannosaurus as predator.

Vicious T. rex attack or simply bad breath?
 Other Large Tyrannosaurids (all Cretaceous in Age)
Tarbosaurus (“terror-lizard”) from Mongolia and China

Holotype
Adults 33 to 39 feet long.
skull
Tarbosaurus Tyrannosaurus

Differences between Tarbosaurus and Tyrannosaurus skulls.

Dasplateosaurs (“fearful-lizard”) from North America

Adults 26 to 30 feet long.

Gorgosaurus (“dreadful-lizard”)
from North America

Adults 26 to 28 feet long. Dinosaur expert Robert “Bob” Bakker with

Gorgosaurus.
Sub-adult specimen of Gorgosaurus in the common
death pose caused by the carcass drying out.
 Teratophoneus (“monster-murderer”) from North America

Adults about 20 feet long.

 Albertosaurus (“Alberta lizard”) from Canada.

Skull. Reconstructed skull.

Adults up to 30 feet long.