Tyrannosaurus rex

Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the few apex predators that roam through Mesos. With its bone crushing bite, different hunting tactics when growing and their social structure, they deserve the title of "King of Tyrants" wherever they live.

Common Names

English: Tyrants

Basic Information

Anatomy

Tyrannosaurus rex is a large bipedal theropod. It has two muscly legs with three fingers and two small yet strong arms with two fingers. It possesses a large tail which counterbalances its massive head.

The most distinctive feature of a Tyrannosaurus is its head. These animals have one of the biggest skulls there are. They have thick teeth of around 15 centimeters long. Tyrannosaurus rex can also be distinguished by a rough texture on the front of their skulls, just at the back of their nostrils, which exists to give this animal's skull a strong resistance to impact to achieve a high biting force. Tyrannosaurus can also be found with this part of their heads colored.

Tyrannosaurus are covered in feathers on the top of the head, neck, back and tail. The feathers on the head and neck are larger than in the rest of the body in males, probably due to sexual dimorphism. The rest of the skin is covered in scales. The skin is of around 8 centimeters thick.

Biological Traits

Tyrannosaurus rex that live in the temperate zone of Mesos are known to possess more feathers than those in the rest of the continent. This is probably since feathers help these predators to regulate their body temperature in cold climates.

Genetics and Reproduction

Tyrannosaurus rex reproduce in an act known as a “cloacal kiss”. In this sexual reproduction, both a male and a female will make their cloaca touch each other, so that the male can impregnate the female.

To do such a thing, two Tyrannosaurus of opposite gender must pair with each other. This happens when two unpaired adults meet each other. If they are not desperate for food, they will try to convince the other to form a pair by emitting low growls. These growls are speculated to induce sexual hormones on other Tyrannosaurus but may not work if the prospect to pair has other interests like food or caring for young.

Pairing and reproduction occur at the same time. Once the pair has copulated, both adults emit very low frequency sounds that other Tyrannosaurus can hear around 50 kilometers away. This sounds can shake trees and pebbles close and are used to scare away any other Tyrannosaurus rex that could dare to come to steal the others pair or to kill their hatchlings.

After some days of reproduction, the female loses interest on reproducing. She would reject any intentions of the male to reproduce and might even get aggressive if the male doesn’t stop. This is because she is already pregnant and needs no more copulating. Two weeks after the pair stops copulating, the female prepares a nest in their den and puts one egg, in rare occasions two. After laying the eggs but parents make the same branch shakings sounds to scare any animal that could endanger the lives of their eggs. Two months after laying the egg, a hatchling would be born and be care for his entire life until adulthood.

Tyrannosaurus rex pairs are known to have an egg at least once a year during spring or summer.

Growth Rate & Stages

During their hatchling and juvenile lives, Tyrannosaurus rex have very long legs and a slim snout. This difference from their adult stage exist to allow initial growth stages to easily run off from danger when needed.

When they get to sub-adult stage, their skull starts getting thicker and part of their sexual marks start showing up. Sub-adult Tyrannosaurus rex still have a slimmer build compared to adults and can easily outrun adults.

Ecology and Habitats

Tyrannosaurus rex seems to not have a preference on what type of environment it likes. As such, they can be found all through the east side of Mesos. They make dens in high places where no big dinosaurs tend to be and have a wide and delimited hunting ground.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Tyrannosaurus rex is a carnivore. They like eating big prey that can’t outrun their chase. To do this, Tyrannosaurus usually rely on ambush to hunt. They use big trees to cover themselves and run directly into distracted herbivores to give a devastating chomp.

Tyrannosaurus are known to hit vital parts with their bone crushing bite. They usually aim for skulls, hitting close to the ears of animals to penetrate their teeth into their brains and causing an instant death.

Sub-adult Tyrannosaurus rex help their parents during hunts. They make use of their higher speed to guide prey into death traps where the adults wait to ambush.

When hunting is not an option, some tyrannosaurus make use of their keen scent to locate food that has already being hunted. Since Tyrannosaurus rex are apex predators, very few animals dare to challenge an adult for food and prefer to run away and wait for leftovers.

Biological Cycle

Tyrannosaurus rex on the temperate forest can be found with more plumage than their other variants in warmer zones, especially when winter arrives.

Additional Information

Social Structure

When Tyrannosaurus rex isn’t alone, they live in family groups known as royalties. They are usually composed of two adults of opposite gender, and their descendance. The adults and sub-adults cooperate to take care of the young and to hunt prey. Youngsters tend to stay close to the nest until they are big enough to accompany the adults when hunting. When a sub-adult reaches adulthood, which can be distinguished by the bright colors on its head, the pair expels it from the royalty and their territory. This newly dispersal adults look for new hunting grounds and possible mates to form a new royalty.

Average Intelligence

Tyrannosaurus rex have a very smart brain compared to other theropods. They can communicate with other Tyrannosaurus by multiple sounds and show behavior of caring for their family.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Great Sight. Great Smell. Good Hearing.

Scientific Name

Tyrannosaurus rex

Origin/Ancestry

Hell Creek Formation - Cretaceous Period

Lifespan

60 years

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Height

3.8 meters

Average Weight

7 tonnes

Average Length

13 meters

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

These animals have dull colors on their body, ranging from black, grey and brown. Their heads usually have color patterns of black and white and their front skulls have bright colors like yellow, orange and red. Tyrannosaurus rex eyes can be found colored red, yellow, amber, black and brown.