Tyrannosaurus Rex- one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs

In 1905, Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History at the time, named Tyrannosaurus rex.

Apart from being one of the largest of the known carnivorous dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex — T. rex, for short — is the dinosaur that has arguably received the most media exposure. It had a starring role in the “Jurassic Park” movies and has a renowned exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The name Tyrannosaurus rex means “king of the tyrant lizards”: “tyranno” means tyrant in Greek; “saurus” means lizard in Greek, and “rex” means “king” in Latin. In 1905, Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History at the time, named Tyrannosaurus rex.

Why is T-Rex in news now

One of the most complete specimens of a T-Rex fossil in the world was sold for a record $31.8 million earlier this week by Christie’s in New York, nearly quadrupling the previous highest price for a dinosaur at auction. The apex predator made mincemeat of Christie’s opening price of between $6 million and $8 million, showing off the lasting power of the T-Rex.

Bids hit the $9 million mark in less than two minutes after the start of the auction, but after 14 minutes there were just three bidders left in the race, until the hammer came down on an offer of $27.5 million, to which were added costs and commissions. The sale was organised in New York, where the expert assessor was located, but with lines open to Hong Kong and London, where Christie’s specialists were taking calls from collectors.

Fossil discovered in 1987

The fossil, nicknamed Stan, stands 13 feet high and 40 feet long, with puncture marks in the skull and neck that experts believe show evidence of fights with fellow T-Rexes. He would have weighed in at around eight tons when alive, some 67 million years ago.

The fossil was discovered in South Dakota in 1987 and named after the amateur paleontologist who came across the remains, Stan Sacrison. Only around 50 Tyrannosaurus fossils have been discovered since the first was unearthed in 1902.

Tyrannnosaurus Jackpot

T-Rex fossil specimen fetches $31.8 million at a New York auction

Sold by Christie’s on October 6 in auction starting at opening price of $6 – 8 million

New price smashes previous record at $8.4 million by Sotheby’s in Chicago in 1997

Only around 50 T-Rex fossils have been discovered since the first in 1902

T-Rex- one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs

Height: up to 6 m

Length: 12 m

Weight: 8 tonnes

1.2-m jaw Could crush bones and take in up to 230 kg of meat in one bite