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Arguably
the most famous dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the
largest predators ever to have walked the earth.
The skull of
Tyrannosaurus rex was up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long and
equipped with 6-inch (15 cm) teeth. It could deliver a powerful,
crushing bite.
T. rex
had massive hind legs and large, three-toed feet. The arms were
small but strong, and each hand had only two functional digits.
The heavy tail counterbalanced the great body weight over the hips.
Carnegie
Museum's specimen is especially important because it is the holotype
of the species Tyrannosaurus rex. A holotype is a specimen
that serves as the basis for the original description of a species.
The Skull
of T. rex
Although more
massive than the skull of Allosaurus, the weight of the skull
of Tyrannosaurus rex was reduced by large openings in the
sides of the skull. In addition to the holes for the nostrils and
eyes, there are four additional openings, reducing most of the skull
to a network of strut-like braces of bones.
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