Tyrannosaurus Rex

Tyrannosaurus Rex, or "T. Rex" as its usually called, was a carnivore from the Cretaceous Period. It was over 12 metres long from nose to tail and weighed almost 7,000kg.

How did Tyrannosaurus Rex get its name? "Tyrannosaurus" comes from two Greek words: Tyranno meaning "tyrant," Saurus meaning "lizard," and Rex is Latin for "king." So if you put the words together, the first name means "tyrant lizard." When you put all three parts together, the name means "tyrant lizard king," or "king of the tyrant lizards." Why? Being over 12 metres long, T. Rex was one of the largest land predators of all time. The name reflects its immense size and power, especially compared to other dinosaurs.

What else is really cool about T. Rex?

• Its teeth grew to be 12 inches long.
• T. Rex's head was so big that if its arms were any longer, it would tip over onto its face.
• One of the most famous and complete T. Rex skeletons is named "Sue" and is on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Created by Carrie Johns
Copyright April 28, 2018
Revised April 28, 2018