A Tyrannosaurus rex, the iconic predator featured in the Jurassic Park franchise, may have walked on its toes, according to recent analysis of its skeletal structure. This challenges long-held assumptions about the dinosaur’s gait and biomechanics.
The Tyrannosaurus rex, living approximately 67 to 66 million years ago in western North America, is one of the most studied dinosaurs in the world, with the first bone fragments discovered in South Dakota in 1892. The species was officially named in 1905 by Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History. The most complete skeleton, known as “Sue,” was discovered in 1990 in the Hell Creek Formation near Faith, South Dakota.
The dinosaur is characterized by its massive skull and powerful jaws, equipped with razor-sharp teeth capable of crushing bone. Its bite force was the strongest of any terrestrial carnivore. Adults could reach lengths of 40 feet, stand 13 feet tall at the hips, and weigh up to 6.8 tons, though some studies suggest they may have grown even larger, potentially reaching 50 feet in length and weighing 33,000 pounds. Despite its size, the T-Rex possessed relatively small arms with two clawed fingers, which scientists believe may have been used for gripping prey or assisting in rising from a prone position.
The Jurassic Park films have popularized the image of the T-Rex as a formidable runner, with John Hammond claiming the dinosaur could reach speeds of 32 mph. However, the latest analysis suggests a different picture. The dinosaur’s foot structure, specifically the arrangement of bones in the ankle and foot, indicates it likely walked on its toes, similar to modern birds. This gait would have provided greater agility and speed, but as well altered the distribution of weight and impact forces during locomotion.
The Tyrannosaurus rex appears in all three original Jurassic Park movies and the subsequent Jurassic World films. The adult female featured in the first film is the largest of those depicted, measuring 40 feet long, 16 feet tall, and weighing 17,500 pounds. Younger adults, like the one seen in Jurassic Park III, were approximately 37 feet long and 10 feet tall. Coloration varies between sexes, with females exhibiting brown hues and grey stripes, even as males are typically greener with darker stripes on their nose, back, legs, and tail.
Paleontologists have debated the presence of feathers on adult Tyrannosaurus rex. While young Tyrannosaurus were likely covered in feathers, the discovery of the feathered tyrannosauroid Yutyrannus huali in China led some scientists to believe that adult Tyrannosaurus may also have possessed feathers. However, skin impressions suggest that Tyrannosaurus was primarily scaly.
InGen, the fictional biotechnology company in the Jurassic Park series, was responsible for bringing the Tyrannosaurus rex back to life through de-extinction. The dinosaur was originally intended for exhibition at Jurassic Park, but the park’s abandonment led to the animals roaming freely. Later attempts to incorporate the T-Rex into Jurassic Park: San Diego and Jurassic World also faced setbacks, ultimately resulting in the evacuation and abandonment of those facilities.
