Tyrannosaurus rex, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous (approximately 67 million years ago), Hell Creek Formation, Harding County, South Dakota, USA
This extraordinary fossil, excavated over field seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
T. rex lived during the Late Cretaceous, in the Maastrichtian age, a time marked by warm climates, high sea levels, and rich coastal floodplains that supported an extraordinary diversity of life across what is now western North America. These environments, from river systems to open woodlands, created the ecological conditions in which large herbivores such as Triceratops and Edmontosaurus flourished, and in turn sustained apex predators like T. rex.
Today, T. rex reigns as the worldâs most recognized dinosaur â a creature so embedded in popular consciousness, from blockbuster movies to childrenâs coloring books, that its silhouette is known worldwide. It is distinguished by an immense skull, deepârooted long teeth, and an exceptionally powerful bite, alongside a highly developed sense of smell and forwardâfacing vision. Its massive hindlimbs and muscular tail suggest a predator built for bursts of speed and force. âGusâ would have sat right at the top of the ecosystem, using its strength, sharp senses, and adaptability to become one of the most powerful predators the world has ever seen.
Courtesy: Sotheby's / Photography: Matthew Sherman
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