Tyrannosaurus rex, or T. rex for short, is one of the most famous and iconic dinosaurs of all time. It was a fearsome predator that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 to 66 million years ago. It had a massive skull, powerful jaws, sharp teeth, and a long tail that balanced its huge body. But did you know that T. rex also had some surprising relatives, both extinct and living? In this article, we will explore the family tree of T. rex and reveal which of the following is most closely related to this king of dinosaurs.
Contents
The tyrannosaur group
T. rex belongs to a group of theropod dinosaurs called tyrannosaurs, which means “tyrant lizards”. Tyrannosaurs were bipedal carnivores that evolved from small and agile ancestors in the Middle Jurassic, about 165 million years ago. They diversified into many different species and genera, some of which were among the largest and most successful predators of their time.
Tyrannosaurs are divided into two main subgroups: the basal tyrannosauroids and the derived tyrannosaurids. The basal tyrannosauroids were mostly small to medium-sized theropods that lived in Asia and Europe from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. They had long arms with three fingers, slender skulls with small teeth, and some of them had feathers or proto-feathers on their bodies.
The derived tyrannosaurids were much larger and more specialized theropods that lived in North America and Asia from the Late Cretaceous. They had short arms with two fingers, robust skulls with large teeth, and thick bones that supported their massive weight. They also had feathers or proto-feathers on some parts of their bodies, such as the head, neck, and tail.
The closest extinct relatives of T. rex
T. rex is one of the most derived and well-known members of the tyrannosaurid subgroup. It is classified in the tribe Tyrannosaurini, along with other similar genera such as Tarbosaurus, Zhuchengtyrannus, and Lythronax. These tyrannosaurines were characterized by having deep skulls with a pronounced crest on the snout, long legs with fused ankle bones, and a stiffened tail that acted as a counterbalance.
The closest extinct relative of T. rex within the Tyrannosaurini tribe is Tarbosaurus, which lived in Asia at the same time as T. rex lived in North America. Tarbosaurus was very similar to T. rex in size, shape, and appearance, but had some minor differences in skull anatomy and tooth morphology. Some paleontologists even consider Tarbosaurus to be a junior synonym of T. rex, meaning that they are actually the same species.
The closest extinct relative of T. rex outside the Tyrannosaurini tribe is Daspletosaurus, which lived in North America before T. rex evolved. Daspletosaurus was slightly smaller than T. rex, but had a similar skull structure and tooth shape. It also had a bony ridge above its eyes that may have been used for display or combat.
The closest living relatives of T. rex
You may be wondering: which of the following is most closely related to T. rex among living animals? Is it a crocodile, a lizard, or a bird? The answer may surprise you: it is a bird!
Yes, you read that right: birds are the closest living relatives of T. rex and other dinosaurs. This is because birds are actually living dinosaurs themselves: they belong to a group of theropod dinosaurs called avialans, which evolved from feathered ancestors in the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous.
Birds share many features with their dinosaur relatives, such as having hollow bones, air sacs, a wishbone, and feathers. They also have similar genes and proteins that regulate their development and metabolism.
But which bird is most closely related to T. rex among all living birds? To answer this question, scientists have compared the DNA sequences of different birds and dinosaurs to reconstruct their evolutionary relationships. The results show that the most immediate living relatives of T. rex are chickens and ostriches!
Chickens and ostriches belong to a group of birds called palaeognaths, which have a primitive jaw structure that resembles that of early theropods. Palaeognaths are more closely related to T. rex than other groups of birds such as neognaths (which include most modern birds) or ratites (which include flightless birds such as emus and kiwis).
So next time you see a chicken or an ostrich, remember that they are distant cousins of T. rex! And next time you eat a chicken nugget or an ostrich burger, remember that you are eating a dinosaur! How cool is that?
Conclusion
Tyrannosaurus rex was a magnificent and formidable dinosaur that ruled the land in the Late Cretaceous. It had many extinct relatives that were also impressive predators, such as Tarbosaurus and Daspletosaurus. But it also had some surprising living relatives that are very different from it, such as chickens and ostriches. These birds are the closest living relatives of T. rex and other dinosaurs, because they are actually living dinosaurs themselves!
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about the family tree of T. rex. If you want to know more about T. rex and its relatives, you can visit the following websites:
- Wikipedia: A free online encyclopedia that has detailed information about T. rex and other dinosaurs.
- Live Science: A science news website that has images and articles about T. rex and its relatives.
- Paleonerdish: A blog that has a brief introduction to the T. rex family tree.
- Dinosaur Facts for Kids: A website that has fun facts and activities for kids about dinosaurs, including T. rex.
- Smithsonian Magazine: A magazine that has stories and insights about T. rex and other topics.
Thank you for reading and have a great day!
