Stan the T. rex
The specimen shown in our room is a replica of Stan, the largest and most complete male Tyrannosaurus rex known today (12.2m long and 3.7m high). He was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation in South-Dakota (USA).
His skeleton bears the marks of many an injury: broken and healed ribs; cervical vertebrae that are fused or have become rigid owing to excess bone growth; and a hole in the back of his skull is a perfect match for… the tooth of a T. rex! Most of these injuries could have been inflicted by other tyrannosaurs, but Stan survived all of it. When he died, all of his wounds had healed already or were on the mend.
Do not miss the two interviews about the T. rex about its growth, its anatomy and its way of life.
The sharp, back-curving teeth of the ‘T. Rex’ held the prey in its mouth while slicing it into pieces.
‘Tyrannosaurus rex’, the "tyrant lizard king" is one of the largest terrestrial carnivores of all time and could be as long as 15m! Its front legs were ridiculously small but its jaws were extremely powerful. Nicknamed Stan, this one was excavated in 1992.