Monday, October 17, 2011

T Rex Was Bigger, Faster, Nastier & Hungrier Than Thought

The nasty dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex was bigger, faster and hungrier than previously thought, scientists are reporting.

Using three-dimensional laser scans and computer modeling, UK and US researchers compared statistics of five T. rex specimens, including the Chicago Field Museum's famous "Sue," the largest and most complete T. rex skeleton ever to be discovered. The tests concluded that "Sue", who roamed what is now the Great Plains of North America, would have weighed more than 9 tons, some 30% more than previously believed.

Further evidence suggests that the T rex also matured and grew at a faster rate than thought. "At their fastest, in their teenage years, they were putting on 11 pounds or 5 kilograms a day," John Hutchinson of the Royal Veterinary College in London told Reuters.

The latest research, published online in the journal PLoS ONE, adds to the body of evidence that has made T. rex among the most intensively studied of all dinosaurs. If the fourth installment of Jurassic Park ever gets made, we're sure Steven Spielberg will use this information to make the dino-bad boys even scarier!

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