Tarbosaurus
- Name meaning: Alarming king
- average length: 10.3-11.8 m( 33-38 ft )
- maximum length: 12-12.7 m (40-42.5 ft )
- average weight: 4-5 tons
- maximum weight: 6-7.89 tons
- average height: 3-3.7 m (10-12 ft)
- maximum height: 4-4.8 m (13-15 ft)
- time period: 70-65 mya
- habitat: Asia
- skull length: 120-137 cm (3.9-4.4 ft )
- bite force: 13000 psi
- tooth length: 25 cm 9.5 in.
Tarbosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that flourished in Asia about 70 million years ago, at the end of the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossils have been recovered in Mongolia, with more fragmentary remains found further afield in parts of China. Although many species have been named, modern paleontologists recognize only one, T. bataar, as valid. Some experts see this species as an Asian representative of the North American genus Tyrannosaurus; this would make the genus Tarbosaurus redundant. Tarbosaurus and Tyrannosaurus, if not synonymous, are considered to be at least closely related genera. Alioramus, also from Mongolia, is thought by some authorities to be the closest relative of Tarbosaurus.
Like most known tyrannosaurids, Tarbosaurus was a large bipedal predator, weighing up to five tonnes and equipped with about sixty large teeth. It had a unique locking mechanism in its lower jaw and the smallest forelimbs relative to body size of all tyrannosaurids, renowned for their disproportionately tiny, two-fingered forelimbs.
Tarbosaurus lived in a humid floodplain criss-crossed by river channels. In this environment, it was an apex predator at the top of the food chain, probably preying on other large dinosaurs like the hadrosaur Saurolophus or the sauropod Nemegtosaurus. Tarbosaurus is represented by dozens of fossil specimens, including several complete skulls and skeletons. These remains have allowed scientific studies focusing on its phylogeny, skull mechanics, and brain structure.
Although slightly smaller than Tyrannosaurus, Tarbosaurus was one of the largest tyrannosaurids. The largest known individuals were between 10 and 12 m (33 and 39 ft) long. The mass of a fully grown individual is considered comparable to or slightly smaller than Tyrannosaurus, often estimated to be around 4–5 metric tons.The largest known Tarbosaurus skull is more than 1.3 m (4.3 ft) long, larger than all other tyrannosaurids exceptTyrannosaurus. The skull was tall, like that of Tyrannosaurus, but not as wide, especially towards the rear. The unexpanded rear of the skull meant that Tarbosaurus eyes did not face directly forwards, suggesting that it lacked the binocular vision ofTyrannosaurus. Large fenestrae (openings) in the skull reduced its weight. Between 58 and 64 teeth lined its jaws, slightly more than in Tyrannosaurus but fewer than in smaller tyrannosaurids like Gorgosaurus and Alioramus. Most of its teeth were oval in cross section, although the teeth of the premaxilla at the tip of the upper jaw had aD-shaped cross section. This heterodonty is characteristic of the family. The longest teeth were in the maxilla (upper jaw bone), with crowns up to 85 millimeters (3.3 in) long. In the lower jaw, a ridge on the outer surface of the angular bone articulated with the rear of the dentary bone, creating a locking mechanism unique to Tarbosaurusand Alioramus. Other tyrannosaurids lacked this ridge and had more flexibility in the lower jaw.
Due to the differences between it and Tyrannosaurus and its skull being more specialized, scientists have suggested that this was due to the different prey they hunted, with Tyrannosaurus hunting large, armored, fast, and agile prey. While Tarbosaurus most probably hunted less shielded but much larger prey such as Shantungosaurus and Nemegtosaurus. With later probably reaching sizes upwards of 80 feet! There is also enough evidence to suggest that Tarbosaurus hunted in groups of upwards of 3 members. Along with the Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, and Daspletosaurus ( and possibly T. rex and Nanotyrannus) case, this is the only ecosystem where multiple large Tyrannosaurs coexisted together Tarbosaurus and Zhuchentyrannus ( and Qianzhousaurus even though it was very highly specialized for an entirely different niche).
Like most known tyrannosaurids, Tarbosaurus was a large bipedal predator, weighing up to five tonnes and equipped with about sixty large teeth. It had a unique locking mechanism in its lower jaw and the smallest forelimbs relative to body size of all tyrannosaurids, renowned for their disproportionately tiny, two-fingered forelimbs.
Tarbosaurus lived in a humid floodplain criss-crossed by river channels. In this environment, it was an apex predator at the top of the food chain, probably preying on other large dinosaurs like the hadrosaur Saurolophus or the sauropod Nemegtosaurus. Tarbosaurus is represented by dozens of fossil specimens, including several complete skulls and skeletons. These remains have allowed scientific studies focusing on its phylogeny, skull mechanics, and brain structure.
Although slightly smaller than Tyrannosaurus, Tarbosaurus was one of the largest tyrannosaurids. The largest known individuals were between 10 and 12 m (33 and 39 ft) long. The mass of a fully grown individual is considered comparable to or slightly smaller than Tyrannosaurus, often estimated to be around 4–5 metric tons.The largest known Tarbosaurus skull is more than 1.3 m (4.3 ft) long, larger than all other tyrannosaurids exceptTyrannosaurus. The skull was tall, like that of Tyrannosaurus, but not as wide, especially towards the rear. The unexpanded rear of the skull meant that Tarbosaurus eyes did not face directly forwards, suggesting that it lacked the binocular vision ofTyrannosaurus. Large fenestrae (openings) in the skull reduced its weight. Between 58 and 64 teeth lined its jaws, slightly more than in Tyrannosaurus but fewer than in smaller tyrannosaurids like Gorgosaurus and Alioramus. Most of its teeth were oval in cross section, although the teeth of the premaxilla at the tip of the upper jaw had aD-shaped cross section. This heterodonty is characteristic of the family. The longest teeth were in the maxilla (upper jaw bone), with crowns up to 85 millimeters (3.3 in) long. In the lower jaw, a ridge on the outer surface of the angular bone articulated with the rear of the dentary bone, creating a locking mechanism unique to Tarbosaurusand Alioramus. Other tyrannosaurids lacked this ridge and had more flexibility in the lower jaw.
Due to the differences between it and Tyrannosaurus and its skull being more specialized, scientists have suggested that this was due to the different prey they hunted, with Tyrannosaurus hunting large, armored, fast, and agile prey. While Tarbosaurus most probably hunted less shielded but much larger prey such as Shantungosaurus and Nemegtosaurus. With later probably reaching sizes upwards of 80 feet! There is also enough evidence to suggest that Tarbosaurus hunted in groups of upwards of 3 members. Along with the Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, and Daspletosaurus ( and possibly T. rex and Nanotyrannus) case, this is the only ecosystem where multiple large Tyrannosaurs coexisted together Tarbosaurus and Zhuchentyrannus ( and Qianzhousaurus even though it was very highly specialized for an entirely different niche).