tyrannosaurids
Massive carnivorous dinosaurs
Tyrannosaurids are the family of large bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs that includes Tyrannosaurus rex and its relatives.
These apex predators of the late Cretaceous period shared distinctive features: massive skulls, powerful jaws, tiny forelimbs, and two-fingered hands.
The tyrannosaurids dominated North America and Asia before the mass extinction.
Carnivorous bipedal dinosaurs
- carnivoresAnimals eating only meat
- bipedalHaving two feet
- AlbertosaurusLate Cretaceous theropod genus
- cladeMonophyletic taxonomic group
genus · species · subfamily · phylogeny · classification · morphology
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- fossilizationOrganic remains becoming mineral
osteology · coprolites · mineralization · petrification · specimen · articulated · fragmentary · skull
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- huntingPursuing wild game
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- preyAnimal being hunted
bite force · ambush · pursuit · territorial · pack behavior · feeding · carcass · predation
Head's bone casing
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- serratedHaving toothlike projections
- binocular visionOverlapping visual fields merged
forelimbs · hindlimbs · powerful legs · tail · bone-crushing · olfactory · musculature · bipedal
Age of Reptiles
- Late CretaceousLast dinosaur epoch
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- AppalachiaEastern U.S. mountain region
- pterosaursExtinct flying reptiles
hadrosaurs · ankylosaurs · conifers · cycads · volcanism · climate · ecosystem · coexistence
theropods
Carnivorous bipedal dinosaurs
- carnivoresAnimals eating only meat
- bipedalHaving two feet
- AlbertosaurusLate Cretaceous theropod genus
clade · genus · species · subfamily · phylogeny · classification · morphology
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
fossilization · osteology · coprolites · mineralization · petrification · specimen · articulated · fragmentary · skull · femur
apex predator
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
prey · bite force · ambush · pursuit · territorial · pack behavior · feeding · carcass · predation · aggression
skull
Head's bone casing
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- serratedHaving toothlike projections
binocular vision · forelimbs · hindlimbs · powerful legs · tail · bone-crushing · olfactory · musculature · bipedal · fenestrae
Mesozoic
Age of Reptiles
- Late CretaceousLast dinosaur epoch
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- AppalachiaEastern U.S. mountain region
pterosaurs · hadrosaurs · ankylosaurs · conifers · cycads · volcanism · climate · ecosystem · coexistence · contemporaneous
tyrannosauridssauropods
Massive long-necked dinosaur group
titanosaurs · apatosaurus · brontosaurus · diplodocus · hadrosaurs