This object is part of the Education and Outreach collection, some of which are in the Q?rius science education center and available to see.
Geologic Age:
Mesozoic - Cretaceous - Lower/Early
Notes:
Cast of a tooth.
This specimen is a cast of a tooth from a Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex), which is now extinct. This theropod, or two-legged, dinosaur is a well- known carnivore from the Late Cretaceous (100.5 to 66 million years ago). The T. rex would have had a full mouth of these serrated, slightly curved, cone-shaped teeth. T. rex used its teeth to puncture, grip, pull, tear, and dice flesh of its prey. In conjuction with a T. rex's powerful serrated teeth, this dinosaur also had an impressive bite that could exert approximately 8,000 lbs of force and repetitively crush down bones of its prey. This tooth is 2.5 cm thick and measures 12.25 cm x 4.75 cm.
