Tyrannosaurus | |
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Skeleton at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History | |
Scientific classification | |
Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Tyrannosaurus |
Type species | |
†Tyrannosaurus rex Osborn, 1905 | |
Other species | |
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Synonyms | |
Genus synonymy Species synonymy |
Tyrannosaurus (meaning "tyrant lizard") was a large predatory dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous, 68 to 65 million years ago.
Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail. Compared to the large and powerful hind limbs, its forelimbs were small, but powerful for their size. They had two clawed digits.
There is discussion as to whether it was a hunter or a scavenger. Like most dominant meat-eaters of today, such as lions and hyenas, Tyrannosaurus might have been both. It had a very strong jaw, and its bite power could snap the bones of smaller dinosaurs.