The T. Rex Dined on Huge, Plant-Eating Dinosaurs — and Each Other But what exactly did the Tyrannosaurus rex eat? New fossil evidence reveals a grisly truth: the T. Rex wasn’t just a hunter of massive herbivores—it was also a cannibal, feasting on the flesh of its own kind.
The mighty Tyrannosaurus rex—often hailed as the undisputed king of the Cretaceous period—is arguably the most iconic dinosaur in history. Since the first fossils were uncovered in the late 1800s, T. Rex has captured the spotlight in scientific studies, museum exhibits, and popular culture.
But if your knowledge of T. Rex comes mainly from blockbuster films, you might have a skewed idea of its diet. (Think: devouring a goat, a tire, or an unlucky lawyer in Jurassic Park.) While those scenes are dramatic, they don’t reflect the full truth.
For decades, paleontologists have turned to the fossil record—not fiction—to piece together what this prehistoric predator actually ate, revealing a far more fascinating and sometimes grisly picture of its real-life feeding habits.
Abstract
The Tyrannosaurus rex ate more than just giant plant-eating dinosaurs—it also consumed members of its own species. This article explores fossilized bite marks, prey preferences, and new research that uncovers the cannibalistic behavior of one of history’s most feared predators. Learn how paleontologists piece together T. Rex’s diet through cutting-edge science.
What Did the T. Rex Eat? A Closer Look at Its Prey
The T. Rex lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 68 to 66 million years ago, and it was the apex predator of its time.
Primary Prey: Giant Plant-Eaters
- Fossils show T. Rex regularly targeted large herbivorous dinosaurs like:
- Edmontosaurus (a duck-billed dinosaur)
- Triceratops, with its iconic horns and frill
- These prey animals were massive, but no match for the T. Rex’s:
- 12-inch serrated teeth
- Bone-crushing bite force of over 12,000 pounds per square inch
Scavenger or Active Hunter?
While once debated, most paleontologists now believe T. Rex was both a scavenger and a hunter, capable of tracking and taking down prey but also feeding on carrion when the opportunity arose.
New Evidence: T. Rex Was Also a Cannibal
In a surprising twist, some T. Rex fossils have been found with bite marks from other T. Rexes. These aren’t just scratches—they’re deep gouges made by powerful jaws, consistent with feeding behavior.
Key Discoveries:
- A 2010 study in PLoS ONE revealed four T. Rex bones bearing tooth marks from other Tyrannosaurs.
- These marks were located on fleshy areas, such as limbs, suggesting feeding, not fighting.
- The orientation and depth of the bites indicate that cannibalism was likely opportunistic, possibly occurring when one T. Rex found another already dead—or in moments of hunger and desperation.
Fact: Cannibalism has been observed in many apex predators, including modern-day Komodo dragons and crocodiles, making this behavior in T. Rex plausible and not unique.
Why Would T. Rex Eat Its Own Kind?
Scientists offer several possible explanations:
1. Competition for Food
- During tough times or after mass deaths, T. Rex may have had limited access to fresh prey, leading it to scavenge fallen rivals.
2. Territorial Fights Gone Deadly
- Battles between T. Rex individuals could turn fatal—the winner might feast on the loser.
3. Natural Opportunism
- Like many predators today, T. Rex likely didn’t pass up an easy meal, even if it was a fellow carnivore.
What This Tells Us About T. Rex Behavior
The discovery of cannibalism adds another layer to the complex behavior of this dinosaur:
- Intelligent Feeding Strategy: T. Rex may have adapted its diet to changing environments and survival pressures.
- Territorial Aggression: Cannibalism could be a sign of dominance behavior in a harsh world.
- Ecological Balance: As apex predators, they shaped their ecosystems through hunting, scavenging, and even self-regulation through intraspecies predation.
FAQ
1. What kind of dinosaurs did T. Rex eat?
Primarily large herbivores like Triceratops and Edmontosaurus.
2. Was T. Rex a hunter or a scavenger?
Likely both—it hunted live prey and scavenged dead animals when available.
3. Did T. Rex eat other T. Rexes?
Yes, fossil evidence shows bite marks on T. Rex bones from other T. Rex individuals.
4. Why would it eat its own kind?
Cannibalism likely occurred due to territorial fights, scarce food, or opportunistic feeding.
5. How do scientists know what T. Rex ate?
Through tooth marks on bones, fossilized stomach contents, and biomechanical studies of its jaws.
6. Did other dinosaurs show cannibalism?
Yes, cannibalism has been suggested in species like Majungasaurus and others.
Conclusion
The Tyrannosaurus rex wasn’t just a dinosaur—it was a brutal, intelligent, and opportunistic predator that dominated its environment. From crushing giant plant-eaters to possibly devouring fallen rivals, T. Rex’s dietary habits reveal a species driven by survival at any cost.
These findings paint a fuller, more complex picture of the “king of the dinosaurs”—not just a hunter, but a scavenger, a cannibal, and a master of its prehistoric domain.
