Tyrannosaurus

Tyrannosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in what is now western North America during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 to 66 million years ago. The best known species is Tyrannosaurus rex. Members of Tyrannosaurus were among the largest land carnivores of their time, characterized by a massive skull, a short neck, an enormous jaw with large, serrated teeth, powerful hind limbs, and relatively short forelimbs with two clawed fingers. Adults are estimated to have reached about 12 meters (40 feet) in length and weighed several tons.

Fossils have been primarily recovered from formations across the western United States, including the Hell Creek and Lance formations, indicating a habitat of river valleys and coastal environments within the broader landmass of Laramidia. The genus was named by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1905 from fossils collected by Barnum Brown in North America; Tyrannosaurus rex is the best represented species in the fossil record.

Ecology and biology: T. rex was an apex predator and likely also scavenged carrion. Its teeth and jaw could deliver one of the strongest bite forces among terrestrial animals known from the fossil record. The animal had a keen sense of smell and good binocular vision. Bone histology suggests rapid growth to adult size.

In popular culture, Tyrannosaurus has become an iconic symbol of prehistoric life and is widely studied in paleontology for insights into carnivorous dinosaurs, their evolution, and their ecosystems.