A tyrannosaurus was one of the largest and most powerful meat-eating dinosaurs that ever lived. Standing about 12 feet tall at the hip and stretching 40 feet from nose to tail, this enormous predator roamed North America roughly 68 to 66 million years ago, making it one of the last dinosaurs before the great extinction.

The full scientific name is Tyrannosaurus rex, which means “tyrant lizard king” in Latin. That name fits perfectly: this dinosaur had a massive skull filled with teeth as long as bananas, powerful legs for chasing prey, and jaws strong enough to crush bone. Its tiny arms have puzzled scientists for years, though they were still muscular and may have helped the dinosaur rise from a resting position.

Tyrannosaurus remains have fascinated scientists since the first skeleton was discovered in Montana in 1902. Museums around the world display tyrannosaurus skeletons, and paleontologists continue debating whether these giants were primarily hunters or scavengers. Recent discoveries suggest they may have had feathers, at least when young, challenging the scaly appearance shown in older movies and books.