WHAT’S THE STORY?

A NEW exhibition which has just opened in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh tells the story of the Tyrannosaurs and especially Tyrannosaurus rex, the species of dinosaur which roamed the Earth – actually just North America – pretty much as it pleased for millions of years.

The exhibition will centre around Tyrannosaurus Rex, or T. rex for short with cast skeletons including one of Scotty, one of the largest and most complete T. rex skeletons in the world.

Tyrannosaurs will show visitors not only the mighty scale of T. rex, but also their fascinating family tree, including early Asian feathered tyrannosaurs which are some of the most exciting recent discoveries in dinosaur palaeontology.

No disrespect to these undoubtedly fascinating exhibits but it will be Scotty the T rex who will prove to be the main attraction.

SCOTTY?

THE biggest fossilised T. rex ever found, he or she – palaeontologists are not sure – was unearthed in 1991, near the town of Eastend, Saskatchewan.

The scientists were so thrilled at the find that they celebrated it with a toast and the only decent drink on hand was a bottle of Scotch whisky, hence the nickname. It was reported recently that after all of Scotty’s fossils were prepared, the researchers found they had about 65% of the skeleton, including the skull, the lower jaw, vertebrae from the neck, back and tail, and parts of the hips, leg and shoulder. Such was the completeness of the find that the palaeontologists were able to estimate its weight at 19,555 lbs. (8870kg) some 880 lbs (400kg) heavier than the previous T. rex heavyweight champion who can be found in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and rejoices in the name of Sue.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT T. REX AND WHY ARE WE SO FASCINATED BY THEM?

LET Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Science at National Museums Scotland tell the story: “For any of us who are fascinated by dinosaurs, T. rex is surely the most recognisable, whether in popular culture on on the front of your first dinosaur book or poster as a kid.

"I think there is a real sense of wonder that such a seemingly fantastic animal actually walked the earth.”

Kim McKay, director and chief executive of exhibition organisers Australian Museum, said that the public’s fascination with dinosaurs has never waned and the fossils in the exhibition are the building blocks of everything we know about these awe-inspiring creatures.

She said: “The Tyrannosaurs exhibition will not only take visitors on a remarkable journey to our earth’s ancient past, but will also provide a real sense of scientific enquiry and discovery from the latest breakthroughs and research programs.”

HOW BIG AND BRUTAL WAS T. REX?

THOSE of a nervous disposition should look away now ...

The National Museums own research into T. rex shows that it was about 37-38 ft (12m) long with an 18ft (6m) tail. NMS say: “It had strong thighs, and together with its long powerful tail – which gave it balance – this helped it moved quickly.”

Here’s the gruesome stuff:

“T rex’s serrated conical teeth allowed it to pierce and grip flesh, and its strong neck muscles were then used to rip the flesh from the carcass of its prey. Its two-fingered forelimbs could possibly manipulate prey, but were far too short to reach its mouth.”

T. rex was a carnivore who likely preyed on other bigger, slower moving dinosaurs. Even if we had been around at the time, humans would not have provided much of a meal as T. rex could eat up to 500lbs of meat in one bite.

Fossils show that T. rex swallowed its prey bones and all – broken bones have been found in dung fossils.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?

T. REX lived in forested river valleys in North America during the late Cretaceous period and became extinct about 65 million years ago when an extinction event took place – some experts say an asteroid hit the Earth, but others argue that mammals worked out ways of killing them

The exhibition runs until May 4.