Getting to know our old "friend": T-rex

Named the “king of the tyrant lizards,” Tyrannosaurus rex was built to rule. T-rex was one of the most ferocious predators to ever walk the Earth. With a massive body, sharp teeth, and jaws so powerful they could crush a car, this famous carnivore dominated the forested river valleys in western North America during the late Cretaceous period, 68 million years ago.

Firstly, they were terrifying large, measuring up to 40 feet (12.3 m) long and 12 feet (3.66 m) when measured up to the top of their hips. They were one of the largest of all known predators that ever roamed the earth, weighing in at around 9.3 tons (8.4 tonnes) to 15.4 tons (14 tonnes).

Although T. rex is a household name, what we know about this tyrannosaur is constantly evolving. Improved technologies, such as biomechanical modeling and x-ray imaging, have allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of how this apex predator lived.